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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. face — part of the head
  3. net — in sport
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bore — to tire
  8. rush — hurry
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. face — to confront
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bound — tied together
  14. net — for catching
  15. face — to point toward
  16. wake — a trail
  17. net — after costs
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. bound — certain
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. bound — obliged
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. coach — a trainer

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