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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. sharp — clever
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. board — a committee
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. foot — a measure
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. board — to get on
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. safe — a strongbox

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