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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. last — finally
  3. chair — a leader
  4. cue — a hint
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bore — to tire
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bound — certain
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. last — to go on
  13. last — final
  14. cue — a signal
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. bore — to drill
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bound — tied together
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. chair — a professorship

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