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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: roll · bore · field · pound · sharp · current · mark · ball

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. bore — to drill
  3. roll — a list
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. field — for sport
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. field — a subject
  9. field — farmland
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mark — a grade
  14. sharp — clever
  15. current — of water
  16. ball — a great time
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bore — to tire
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. current — electric
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. roll — a cake
  23. ball — a dance
  24. current — happening now

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