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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: mate · branch · mouse · rock · ground · bore · bulb · pass

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bore — to drill
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mate — to breed
  9. bore — to tire
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. branch — a division
  12. bulb — for light
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. rock — a stone
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mate — a friend
  22. ground — crushed
  23. ground — a position
  24. bulb — for light

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