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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 116 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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. staff — a stick
  3. track — a song
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. rock — a stone
  6. lean — to bend
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. staff — employees
  9. stock — goods
  10. stock — shares
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. track — to keep track
  15. current — of water
  16. staff — employees
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. bore — to tire
  19. lean — thin
  20. track — a path
  21. current — electric
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. rock — music
  24. current — happening now

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