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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: game · safe · coach · mug · bowl · bore · shower · pitch

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. game — wild animals
  6. game — a match
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. mug — to rob
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. shower — rain
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bore — to tire
  21. shower — to wash
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mug — a face
  24. game — a kind of play

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