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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  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. cap — a hat
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. drill — army training
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. bore — to tire
  8. rest — a break
  9. rest — what's left
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. drill — the tool
  14. rest — what's left
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cap — of ice
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cap — a lid
  19. pass — a permit
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. drill — a practice
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bore — to drill
  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