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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: stand · trunk · content · roll · key · bore · mouse · ball

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. roll — a cake
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. ball — a great time
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. bore — to tire
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. key — for a lock
  15. stand — to bear
  16. roll — a list
  17. ball — a dance
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — in music
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. content — the amount
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. content — happy

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