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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. face — part of the head
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. spring — the season
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. face — to point toward
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. spring — of water
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. spring — a coil
  23. face — to confront
  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