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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
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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: mug · stand · roll · club · arm · date · bowl · bore

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. bore — to tire
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bore — to drill
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. mug — a cup
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. date — the fruit
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. mug — to rob
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. mug — a face
  18. club — for golf
  19. stand — to bear
  20. roll — a list
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. roll — a cake
  23. club — for dancing
  24. bowl — a dish

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