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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bore — to tire
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. march — the month
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. net — for catching
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. march — music
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. march — the month
  17. net — in sport
  18. bore — to drill
  19. current — of water
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — electric
  24. bore — gave birth

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