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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: lean · jam · mine · mug · tube · bore · bay · staff

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. staff — employees
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bore — to tire
  5. staff — employees
  6. mug — a face
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mine — for digging
  13. lean — thin
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. tube — a container
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. staff — a stick
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. lean — to bend
  22. tube — the underground
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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