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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mate · key · mark · drill · bore · bank · roll · chip

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bore — to tire
  3. roll — a cake
  4. drill — a practice
  5. drill — army training
  6. key — the most important part
  7. chip — to eat
  8. mate — a friend
  9. drill — the tool
  10. chip — for betting
  11. bank — for money
  12. key — in music
  13. mark — a grade
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. bank — for money
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mark — a trace
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. bore — to drill
  21. mate — a partner
  22. roll — a list
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. bank — of a river

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