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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 116 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 · bass · tear · press · bound · bulb · last · bore

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. press — to push
  6. tear — to rip
  7. tear — from crying
  8. last — to go on
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bass — the fish
  11. last — finally
  12. mug — to rob
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — certain
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — low music
  17. mug — a face
  18. tear — from crying
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. press — a publisher
  22. last — final
  23. bulb — of a plant
  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