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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: mark · key · spring · saw · mate · rest · band · bore

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. bore — to drill
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. key — the most important part
  7. spring — of water
  8. key — in music
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rest — a break
  12. bore — to tire
  13. spring — a coil
  14. key — for a lock
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. spring — the season
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. rest — what's left
  24. band — a ring

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