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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: pound · safe · lie · mug · can · present · drill · wake

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wake — a trail
  4. mug — to rob
  5. pound — a weight
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. lie — to recline
  8. can — a tin
  9. present — there
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mug — a cup
  12. present — the time now
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mug — a face
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. present — a gift
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. drill — a practice
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. drill — the tool

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