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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bore — to tire
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bore — to drill
  8. can — a tin
  9. snap — to click
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. rock — music
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — a stone
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. deal — to handle
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. rock — to move gently

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