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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  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. toast — the most admired
  2. fine — all right
  3. plane — a tool
  4. shower — rain
  5. bore — to drill
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. fine — high quality
  12. toast — bread
  13. shower — to wash
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. chip — to eat
  17. chip — for betting
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. bore — to tire
  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