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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 120 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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. current — electric
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mark — a trace
  10. current — of water
  11. mark — a grade
  12. pop — music
  13. pop — to visit
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. current — happening now
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — a measure
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. pop — soda
  24. nail — for a hammer

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