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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 116 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: drill · lash · bound · bass · pass · snap · mug · mine

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bass — low music
  7. drill — a practice
  8. mine — for digging
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. bound — certain
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. drill — army training
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. mug — a face
  23. bound — tied together
  24. snap — to click

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