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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bore — to tire
  7. band — a ring
  8. bound — tied together
  9. band — a music group
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bound — certain
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bound — obliged
  17. can — a tin
  18. sharp — clever
  19. can — a tin
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. bowl — to roll

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