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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. bear — the animal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. stem — to come from
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rush — hurry
  15. pit — in a race
  16. pit — a hole
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. kid — child
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. wax — to grow
  21. kid — to tease
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bear — the animal
  24. nail — for a hammer

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