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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: calf · bore · press · season · bound · rock · safe · stem

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bore — to drill
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. stem — to come from
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — certain
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bound — tied together
  18. press — to push
  19. press — newspapers
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. season — of the year
  23. rock — music
  24. season — in sport

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