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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. bore — to tire
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. game — a match
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. scale — in music
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. suit — clothes
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. game — wild animals
  20. bore — to drill
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. scale — size or range
  23. suit — to fit
  24. suit — in cards

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