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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stand — to bear
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. mine — for digging
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rash — hasty
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stand — for spectators

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