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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pass — a permit
  5. game — wild animals
  6. bore — to tire
  7. firm — decided
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bore — to drill
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. current — of water
  14. game — a match
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. current — electric
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. current — happening now
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. firm — a company

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