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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. rush — hurry
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bore — to drill
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. rash — a series
  10. rash — hasty
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. bore — to tire
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. plane — a tool
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pitcher — a jug

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