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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 120 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: cue · stand · safe · temple · net · bore · can · pitcher

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. can — a tin
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. net — in sport
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. net — after costs
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — a tin
  13. net — for catching
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bore — to tire
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cue — for pool
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — a signal

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