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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
468
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: roll · bowl · bound · key · bore · rush · rest · snap

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. rest — what's left
  7. key — for a lock
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bound — obliged
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bound — certain
  13. roll — a list
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. key — the most important part
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. snap — to click
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. bore — to tire
  23. rest — a break
  24. rush — hurry

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