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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: fan · bore · rock · cap · fine · safe · toast · game

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fine — all right
  4. bore — to drill
  5. toast — bread
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. game — a match
  8. cap — a hat
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bore — to tire
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. cap — a lid
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. rock — music
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. fine — high quality
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cap — of ice
  24. game — wild animals

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