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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
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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: cap · bore · mouse · jam · lash · foot · ball · board

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. board — a committee
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bore — to drill
  10. ball — a dance
  11. board — to get on
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. cap — a hat
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bore — to tire
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cap — a lid
  19. cap — of ice
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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