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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. club — for dancing
  3. charge — a price
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. lean — to bend
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. can — a tin
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bore — to drill
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. can — a tin
  15. club — a group
  16. charge — in control
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. charge — electricity
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. club — for golf
  23. lean — thin
  24. arm — part of the body

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