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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bore — to drill
  3. stem — to come from
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. mate — a friend
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. press — to push
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rule — government
  13. ground — a position
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. rule — a law
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. mate — to breed
  18. bore — to tire
  19. ground — crushed
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — newspapers
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. ground — the earth

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