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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: dip · foot · deal · bore · board · saw · pop · nail

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. deal — to handle
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pop — music
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pop — soda
  13. board — a committee
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. board — to get on
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. foot — a measure
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pop — to visit
  21. bore — to tire
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. dip — to sink
  24. nail — on a finger

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