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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: rush · content · mug · cabinet · bore · band · mouse · deal

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. band — a ring
  8. content — the amount
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. band — a music group
  11. bore — to tire
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. rush — hurry
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. mug — a face
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. mug — a cup
  22. deal — to handle
  23. content — happy
  24. mouse — the animal

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