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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bore · mug · jam · hide · nail · shower · safe · deal

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mug — a cup
  4. deal — to handle
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bore — to drill
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. shower — to wash
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. shower — rain
  17. bore — to tire
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. mug — a face
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — an agreement

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