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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: lash · bore · bound · can · pitcher · root · mug · cue

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bound — tied together
  6. root — of a plant
  7. bound — certain
  8. bore — to tire
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. mug — a cup
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. cue — a signal
  14. root — of a word
  15. bound — obliged
  16. can — a tin
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — a tin
  19. cue — a hint
  20. can — to be able to
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. root — the cause
  24. mug — a face

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