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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
468
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 · pop · net · stick · ground · nail · bore · pound

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bore — to drill
  5. net — in sport
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. pound — a weight
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. net — for catching
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. ground — the earth
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. ground — crushed
  16. pop — soda
  17. pop — music
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. bore — to tire
  23. ground — a position
  24. net — after costs

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