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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
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: jam · land · charge · wave · bore · saw · safe · kid

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. land — ground
  3. bore — to tire
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. saw — the tool
  7. charge — a price
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. land — to come down
  10. charge — electricity
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. kid — to tease
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. kid — child
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. land — a country
  21. charge — in control
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. wave — with your hand

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