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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — a position
  4. chip — to eat
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. bore — to drill
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bulb — for light
  11. chip — for betting
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. saw — the tool
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ground — crushed
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bore — to tire

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