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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: capital · mouse · pass · roll · tube · press · mine · bore

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. press — newspapers
  3. capital — a city
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. tube — a container
  7. tube — the underground
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. roll — a list
  10. mine — for digging
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. pass — a permit
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. capital — money
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. press — to push
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. bore — to tire
  22. press — a publisher
  23. bore — to drill
  24. mine — an explosive

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