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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bore — to drill
  4. key — in music
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. key — the most important part
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bore — to tire
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. key — for a lock
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bore — gave birth

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