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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: fine · safe · straw · pit · bore · pitcher · lie · stock

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. fine — all right
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stock — goods
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lie — to recline
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. stock — shares
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fine — high quality
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pit — in a race
  24. stock — a soup base

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