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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
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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: can · key · spring · tube · kick · bore · ground · safe

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. can — a tin
  3. ground — a position
  4. bore — to tire
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. spring — the season
  9. kick — in football
  10. spring — of water
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. key — the most important part
  13. tube — the underground
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. ground — the earth
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ground — crushed
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bore — to drill
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. key — in music
  23. tube — a container
  24. key — for a lock

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