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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: sharp · rock · bulb · bear · foot · pitcher · jam · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bear — the animal
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rock — a stone
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bulb — for light
  18. sharp — clever
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — music
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. pitcher — a jug

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