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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mate · bore · net · mug · bound · mine · root · pitcher

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bore — to drill
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bore — to tire
  9. mug — a face
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. bound — certain
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mate — a partner
  15. root — the cause
  16. mate — a friend
  17. net — in sport
  18. root — of a plant
  19. mug — a cup
  20. net — for catching
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mate — to breed
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. net — after costs

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