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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 can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bore — to drill
  10. key — for a lock
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. bark — to shout
  20. branch — a division
  21. bore — to tire
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. key — in music

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