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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: stand · fan · saw · bore · file · safe · dip · foot

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bore — to tire
  5. stand — to bear
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bore — to drill
  11. file — a document
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. foot — a measure
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. file — a tool
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. saw — the tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. file — a line of people
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. dip — to dunk

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