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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bore — to tire
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mug — a face
  8. rock — music
  9. file — a tool
  10. bore — to drill
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. file — a document
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — a cup
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rock — a stone
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. file — a line of people
  24. lie — to recline

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