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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The water is too ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bank — of a river
  5. cold — the Cold War
  6. bank — for money
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cold — not warm
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bank — for money
  12. cue — a hint
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. rush — hurry
  15. spell — letters
  16. cold — an illness
  17. spell — magic
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bore — to tire
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. cue — a signal

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