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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. can — a tin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. cell — in biology
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. can — a tin
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. cell — a phone
  15. last — final
  16. can — to be able to
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. last — finally
  20. suit — to fit
  21. last — to go on
  22. suit — in cards
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — clothes

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