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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. shower — to wash
  6. bulb — for light
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. cell — in biology
  9. cell — a phone
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. chip — to eat
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bulb — for light
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. ball — a dance
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. shower — rain
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. chip — for betting

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