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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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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. 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. bore — to tire
  2. can — a tin
  3. race — humankind
  4. rock — music
  5. press — to push
  6. rock — a stone
  7. race — the arms race
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bore — to drill
  13. band — a music group
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. press — newspapers
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. race — a contest
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. band — a ring
  21. can — to be able to
  22. press — a publisher
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. 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