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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. bore — to drill
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wake — a trail
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. shower — to wash
  9. suit — to fit
  10. wound — an injury
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. mine — for digging
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bore — to tire
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. suit — clothes

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