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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: mug · press · ground · bore · can · chip · saw · jam

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. chip — to eat
  4. chip — for betting
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. mug — to rob
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. can — a tin
  9. ground — crushed
  10. press — to push
  11. can — to be able to
  12. press — newspapers
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. can — a tin
  17. ground — a position
  18. mug — a face
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mug — a cup
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ground — the earth
  24. bore — to drill

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