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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.

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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: pop · fan · suit · bore · ball · root · bound · safe

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pop — music
  4. ball — a dance
  5. suit — in cards
  6. pop — soda
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — certain
  13. suit — clothes
  14. ball — a great time
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. pop — to visit
  17. bore — to tire
  18. root — the cause
  19. bound — obliged
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. suit — to fit
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. root — of a word

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