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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 116 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: saw · bore · staff · safe · band · kid · pass · perch

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. saw — the tool
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. staff — employees
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. staff — employees
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bore — to tire
  13. saw — the tool
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. kid — to tease
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. band — a ring
  19. staff — a stick
  20. band — a music group
  21. bore — to drill
  22. perch — the fish
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. kid — child

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