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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
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: net · bore · kick · safe · temple · leaves · ball · fan

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — to tire
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. net — after costs
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ball — a great time
  17. kick — in football
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. net — for catching
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. net — in sport

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