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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: drill · jam · scale · mark · bulb · mouse · pound · mug

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — to rob
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. mark — a trace
  7. scale — size or range
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mug — a cup
  10. scale — in music
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. drill — a practice
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. drill — army training
  18. bulb — for light
  19. drill — the tool
  20. pound — a weight
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. bulb — for light
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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