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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bore — to drill
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bore — to tire
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. hand — help
  14. lean — to bend
  15. wound — an injury
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. lean — thin
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. wound — an injury
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. prune — to trim

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