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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. track — to keep track
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mug — a face
  8. suit — clothes
  9. track — a song
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bound — certain
  13. mug — a cup
  14. snap — to click
  15. bound — obliged
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. track — a path
  19. mine — for digging
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bore — to tire

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