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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. chip — to eat
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. roll — a cake
  16. chip — for betting
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. roll — a list
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. safe — out of danger

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