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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. land — to come down
  3. face — part of the head
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. face — to confront
  7. land — a country
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. cell — in biology
  12. bore — to drill
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bank — for money
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. cell — a phone
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. land — ground
  19. pass — a permit
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. face — to point toward
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bank — of a river

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