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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 120 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pound — a weight
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bore — to drill
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. hand — in cards
  9. march — music
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bore — to tire
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. foot — a measure
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. march — the month
  19. mark — a grade
  20. hand — help
  21. key — in music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. pound — to hit hard

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