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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. fall — to drop
  3. saw — the tool
  4. firm — decided
  5. roll — a cake
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — a tin
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. fall — the season
  11. can — a tin
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. firm — steady
  16. roll — a list
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. saw — the tool
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bore — to drill
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. fall — to drop
  24. firm — a company

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