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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. rash — a series
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. stock — goods
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bound — obliged
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. toast — bread
  17. stock — shares
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — the fruit
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. bore — to 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