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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 120 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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. season — of the year
  3. firm — a company
  4. season — in sport
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. staff — employees
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. firm — steady
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. staff — a stick
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. staff — employees
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bore — to tire
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lie — to recline
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. firm — decided

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