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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: firm · saw · pit · safe · kick · mug · drill · bore

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. firm — a company
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. firm — steady
  5. bore — to tire
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mug — a cup
  8. kick — in football
  9. mug — a face
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. drill — army training
  13. pit — in a race
  14. bore — to drill
  15. firm — decided
  16. drill — the tool
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mug — to rob
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. saw — the tool
  22. drill — a practice
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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