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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. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. bore — to drill
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. season — in sport
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. land — to come down
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rock — music
  16. game — wild animals
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. land — a country
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. season — of the year
  21. bore — to tire
  22. game — a match
  23. rock — a stone
  24. safe — a strongbox

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