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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 assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. fine — high quality
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. board — to get on
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. bore — to drill
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rest — what's left
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bore — to tire
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. board — a committee
  20. stem — to come from
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rest — a break
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. safe — out of danger

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