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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: pitcher · pass · hand · mug · safe · bore · spring · shower

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. shower — to wash
  4. bore — to drill
  5. shower — rain
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. spring — the season
  8. hand — help
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pass — a permit
  16. mug — a face
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mug — to rob
  21. spring — a coil
  22. bore — to tire
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. hand — in cards

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