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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bound — certain
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bound — obliged
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. bore — to tire
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bound — tied together
  13. toast — bread
  14. tube — a container
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. snap — to click
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. lean — thin
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. lean — to bend
  23. foot — a measure
  24. tube — in a tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com