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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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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. swing — to play on
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. file — a line of people
  6. can — a tin
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. can — to be able to
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. swing — in golf
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. file — a tool
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. rock — a stone
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. rock — music
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. fork — in a road
  22. file — a document
  23. can — a tin
  24. swing — music

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