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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: can · field · bore · bark · rest · safe · fall · cabinet

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. rest — what's left
  3. field — for sport
  4. rest — a break
  5. bark — to shout
  6. can — a tin
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bore — to drill
  12. can — a tin
  13. field — a subject
  14. can — to be able to
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. fall — the season
  17. field — farmland
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bore — to tire
  21. fall — to drop
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. fall — to drop
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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