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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 120 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: face · rush · safe · pop · bass · bore · bay · kick

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. face — to point toward
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. face — part of the head
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bass — the fish
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. face — to confront
  17. rush — hurry
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bass — low music
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bore — to tire
  24. pop — music

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