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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: bore · rock · mark · chest · stem · can · tube · band

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — to tire
  3. chest — of your body
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. can — a tin
  9. rock — a stone
  10. stem — to come from
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. rock — music
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. can — a tin
  16. tube — a container
  17. band — a music group
  18. tube — the underground
  19. chest — a box
  20. mark — a trace
  21. can — to be able to
  22. band — a ring
  23. mark — a grade
  24. chest — of your body

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