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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: prune · staff · can · charge · safe · bore · mug · mine

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. prune — to trim
  5. staff — a stick
  6. mug — to rob
  7. charge — a price
  8. bore — to drill
  9. prune — to trim
  10. staff — employees
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. charge — electricity
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. can — a tin
  17. mine — for digging
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. staff — employees
  21. mug — a face
  22. charge — in control
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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