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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: rock · nail · swing · mug · bore · drill · board · can

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rock — a stone
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bore — to tire
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. can — a tin
  10. mug — a face
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a committee
  13. can — a tin
  14. drill — a practice
  15. drill — the tool
  16. swing — to play on
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. swing — music
  19. swing — in golf
  20. drill — army training
  21. mug — a cup
  22. bore — to drill
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mug — to rob

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