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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: saw · pass · leaves · mine · safe · tear · wound · bore

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. tear — from crying
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. wound — an injury
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. tear — from crying
  13. tear — to rip
  14. pass — a permit
  15. wound — an injury
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bore — to drill
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mine — for digging
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. bore — to tire
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bore — gave birth

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