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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: present · stick · prune · track · charge · bound · bore · pop

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. charge — in control
  3. bore — to drill
  4. track — a song
  5. charge — a price
  6. bore — to tire
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. track — a path
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. bound — certain
  11. present — a gift
  12. prune — to trim
  13. charge — electricity
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. present — there
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — tied together
  19. present — the time now
  20. pop — soda
  21. pop — to visit
  22. prune — to trim
  23. pop — music
  24. bore — gave birth

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