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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bore — to drill
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. mug — a face
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. press — to push
  10. bound — tied together
  11. press — newspapers
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. bore — to tire
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. press — a publisher
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bound — certain
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. toast — bread
  21. mine — for digging
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a cup

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