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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: track · ground · rash · rest · cabinet · bore · mug · object

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ground — the earth
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bore — to drill
  6. ground — a position
  7. bore — to tire
  8. rash — hasty
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — a song
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — a path
  13. object — to protest
  14. rest — a break
  15. ground — crushed
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rash — a series
  18. object — a thing
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mug — to rob
  21. object — an aim
  22. mug — a cup
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mug — a face

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