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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: kick · ball · spring · mouse · ruler · content · rush · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. content — the amount
  4. spring — a coil
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. spring — of water
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. spring — the season
  14. content — happy
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a dance
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. kick — in football
  23. bore — to tire
  24. content — videos and posts

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