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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 120 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.

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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 · nail · mark · net · dip · bore · pass · lean

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. lean — to bend
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. dip — to sink
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. net — for catching
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — in sport
  14. bore — to drill
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. lean — thin
  19. pass — a permit
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bore — to tire
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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