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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: safe · jam · rush · season · swing · mug · bore · bear

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. swing — music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bear — the animal
  9. rush — hurry
  10. season — of the year
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. swing — in golf
  14. season — in sport
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bore — to tire
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bear — the animal
  20. swing — to play on
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. jam — a tight spot

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