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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. roll — a cake
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. board — a committee
  7. bank — for money
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mug — a face
  10. lean — to bend
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bore — to drill
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. mug — to rob
  16. ground — the earth
  17. board — to get on
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bank — of a river
  20. can — a tin
  21. ground — crushed
  22. roll — a list
  23. bank — for money
  24. lean — thin

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