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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: safe · spell · kick · key · bark · foot · pitcher · bore

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. bore — to tire
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. key — in music
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. spell — a short time
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — the most important part
  16. kick — in football
  17. bark — to shout
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bore — to drill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. spell — magic

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