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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bore — to tire
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lean — thin
  13. net — after costs
  14. lean — to bend
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. net — for catching
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. net — in sport
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — out of danger

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