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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. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. cue — a hint
  5. kick — in football
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bore — to drill
  9. roll — a cake
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — hurry
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bore — to tire
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. roll — a list
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. hand — help
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. temple — a place of worship

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