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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. When was this ________________ built?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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. temple — side of the head
  4. stand — to bear
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — after costs
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. press — a publisher
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. press — newspapers
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. net — in sport
  19. press — to push
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. net — for catching
  24. coach — a trainer

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