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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 120 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. race — humankind
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. race — a contest
  6. march — the month
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. band — a ring
  12. dip — to sink
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. race — the arms race
  16. march — the month
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. band — a music group
  23. march — music
  24. band — a rubber band

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