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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. pop — music
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. face — to point toward
  8. pop — soda
  9. face — part of the head
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. drill — the tool
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. scale — size or range
  14. drill — army training
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lean — thin
  17. face — to confront
  18. drill — a practice
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pop — to visit
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. scale — in music
  24. temple — side of the head

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