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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. bore — to drill
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bulb — for light
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. cap — a lid
  16. land — to come down
  17. bulb — for light
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. land — ground
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. land — a country
  22. cap — of ice
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bulb — of a plant

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