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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: jam · bore · wound · racket · safe · dip · tube · cabinet

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. tube — a container
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. wound — an injury
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. dip — to sink
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. wound — an injury
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bore — to tire
  22. tube — the underground
  23. bore — to drill
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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