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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bay · rash · bowl · lean · rush · bank · safe · bore

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. lean — thin
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bank — for money
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rash — a series
  15. bank — of a river
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bank — for money

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