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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: sharp · bear · wake · patient · season · ball · bore · safe

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. ball — a great time
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bear — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — in sport
  16. bear — the animal
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. ball — a dance
  21. sharp — clever
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. bore — to drill
  24. bore — to tire

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