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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 felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. object — an aim
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. can — a tin
  5. object — a thing
  6. bore — to drill
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. object — to protest
  12. wound — an injury
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bore — to tire
  15. can — a tin
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. chest — of your body
  20. chest — a box
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. wound — an injury
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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