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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 116 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 will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. rock — music
  3. march — music
  4. march — the month
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. bore — to drill
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pound — a weight
  15. bore — to tire
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. hand — in cards
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. hand — help

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