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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: fan · wave · bore · mine · hide · safe · dip · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  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. patient — a sick person
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. bore — to drill
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. dip — to sink
  15. mine — for digging
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  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