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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. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. bore — to drill
  8. can — to be able to
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — a signal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bark — to shout
  13. can — a tin
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bound — certain
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bound — tied together
  22. can — a tin
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. rush — hurry

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