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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 120 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: foot · pound · cell · hide · bore · bound · tube · cue

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. tube — the underground
  3. bound — obliged
  4. tube — a container
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cell — in biology
  8. cue — a hint
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. cell — a phone
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. pound — a weight
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. cue — a signal
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bore — to tire
  24. foot — part of the body

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