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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bass — the fish
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. can — a tin
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lie — to recline
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. kid — to tease
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bass — low music
  18. can — a tin
  19. kid — child
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bore — to drill
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lie — an untruth

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