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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bound — certain
  8. stock — shares
  9. chip — for betting
  10. rock — music
  11. bore — to drill
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. chip — to eat
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bulb — for light
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rock — a stone
  24. stock — goods

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