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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · bore · field · stand · mug · spell · lash · land

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. spell — letters
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. spell — magic
  8. stand — to bear
  9. field — farmland
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bore — to tire
  12. field — a subject
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mug — to rob
  15. land — a country
  16. field — for sport
  17. land — to come down
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mug — a cup
  20. land — ground
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. bore — to drill
  24. mug — a face

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