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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pop — music
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. pop — soda
  8. bark — to shout
  9. pop — to visit
  10. bore — to drill
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — a position
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bore — to tire
  17. mug — a face
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rock — music
  20. ground — crushed
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. mug — to rob

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