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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bore — to tire
  5. mine — for digging
  6. drill — a practice
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bear — the animal
  10. stock — goods
  11. bound — tied together
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. drill — army training
  14. stock — shares
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fine — all right
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. drill — the tool
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bound — certain
  22. mug — a face
  23. bound — obliged
  24. fine — high quality

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