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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: leaves · wake · bore · bass · mouse · safe · court · arm

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bore — to tire
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bore — to drill
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. wake — a trail
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. bass — low music
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. court — of law
  18. court — for sport
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. court — of a king
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. bass — the fish

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