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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. firm — steady
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bore — to drill
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. game — a match
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. season — in sport
  14. season — of the year
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. firm — a company
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. firm — decided
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bore — to tire
  22. game — wild animals
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. lash — to lash out

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