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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bore — to tire
  5. race — the arms race
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. bulb — for light
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. snap — to click
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. foot — a measure
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. mark — a grade
  15. race — a contest
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — obliged
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. race — humankind
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bass — low music

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