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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 120 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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bound — obliged
  5. net — for catching
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bound — tied together
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. net — after costs
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. net — in sport
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. bore — to tire
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. squash — the sport
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. squash — to crush
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bound — certain

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