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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: nail · rush · hide · hand · safe · can · bore · spell

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. spell — a short time
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. can — a tin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. spell — magic
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bore — to drill
  12. hand — in cards
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. can — a tin
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. hand — help
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bore — to tire
  21. rush — hurry
  22. can — to be able to
  23. spell — letters
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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