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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. rash — a series
  3. rush — hurry
  4. spring — of water
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. craft — boats
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bore — to drill
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bore — to tire
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spring — the season
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. spring — a coil
  22. rash — hasty
  23. craft — a skill
  24. rash — on the skin

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