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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: mine · bore · rest · safe · sharp · pass · bass · leaves

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mine — for digging
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. bore — to tire
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rest — a break
  12. rest — what's left
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bore — gave birth

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