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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. key — the most important part
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. bore — to drill
  8. track — to keep track
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. roll — a cake
  11. bore — to tire
  12. roll — a list
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. ball — a great time
  16. staff — employees
  17. track — a song
  18. key — for a lock
  19. track — a path
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. key — in music
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bore — gave birth

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