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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 120 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. present — there
  3. bore — to tire
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. cap — of ice
  6. pound — a weight
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. present — a gift
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — for light
  13. present — the time now
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. net — after costs
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. cap — a lid
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. net — for catching
  24. cap — a hat

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