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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. stem — to come from
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. mug — a cup
  8. ball — a dance
  9. vault — a safe
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. ball — a great time
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. wake — a trail
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a face
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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