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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  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. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. wound — an injury
  6. object — an aim
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. kid — to tease
  9. sharp — clever
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. object — to protest
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. wound — an injury
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. kid — child
  23. object — a thing
  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