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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. hand — in cards
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. net — for catching
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — to bear
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. hand — help
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. drill — the tool
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — to grow
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. net — in sport
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. drill — a practice
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. net — after costs

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