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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. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. row — to paddle
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. object — a thing
  8. row — a line
  9. roll — a cake
  10. tube — a container
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. board — a committee
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. tube — the underground
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. roll — a list
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. object — to protest
  22. object — an aim
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a flat piece

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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