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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: bear · lean · bore · safe · pit · mark · lash · jam

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bear — the animal
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bore — to tire
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. lean — to bend
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. lean — thin
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pit — in a race
  17. pit — a hole
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. mark — a trace
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bear — the animal
  24. lash — to lash out

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