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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 · firm · saw · pitcher · safe · rock · game · bowl

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. firm — decided
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. firm — steady
  7. game — wild animals
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. bore — to tire
  10. saw — the tool
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. rock — music
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. game — a match
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. firm — a company
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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