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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. mate — to breed
  3. can — a tin
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bore — to drill
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mate — a partner
  10. net — in sport
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bore — to tire
  13. can — to be able to
  14. net — for catching
  15. bound — tied together
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mug — a cup
  18. net — after costs
  19. bound — obliged
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mug — a face
  24. safe — out of danger

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