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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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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: pound · swing · plane · cue · toast · nail · deal · bore

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. swing — in golf
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. plane — a tool
  8. swing — music
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bore — to drill
  19. toast — bread
  20. pound — a weight
  21. swing — to play on
  22. cue — for pool
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. deal — a big deal

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