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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · key · ground · foot · bore · net · wound · snap

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. snap — to click
  5. ground — the earth
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. ground — a position
  8. key — for a lock
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. net — for catching
  12. net — after costs
  13. key — the most important part
  14. foot — a measure
  15. net — in sport
  16. bore — to tire
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. wound — an injury
  20. key — in music
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. ground — crushed
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — to recline

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