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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. mine — for digging
  3. fine — all right
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bore — to tire
  10. pound — a weight
  11. fine — high quality
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. suit — to fit
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bore — to drill
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. lean — thin
  21. lean — to bend
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. suit — in cards
  24. safe — a strongbox

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