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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 120 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 · can · nail · pound · spring · bear · suit · ball

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bore — to tire
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bore — to drill
  8. can — a tin
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. can — a tin
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. can — to be able to
  16. suit — to fit
  17. spring — the season
  18. spring — of water
  19. ball — a great time
  20. spring — a coil
  21. pound — a weight
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — 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