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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.

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: can · safe · tube · bore · net · cold · lie · pound

  1. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  2. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cold — the Cold War
  2. cold — an illness
  3. net — for catching
  4. cold — not warm
  5. bore — to drill
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pound — a weight
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. can — a tin
  11. lie — to recline
  12. tube — a container
  13. net — after costs
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bore — to tire
  17. can — a tin
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. net — in sport
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. lie — an untruth

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