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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: pass · ball · tube · bound · racket · kick · shower · bore

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. shower — rain
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. kick — in football
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bore — to tire
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. shower — to wash
  16. bound — obliged
  17. tube — a container
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. ball — a great time
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. bound — certain
  22. bore — to drill
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. racket — for tennis

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