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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. race — humankind
  5. row — to paddle
  6. mate — a friend
  7. row — a line
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. staff — a stick
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mate — to breed
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. mate — a partner
  18. staff — employees
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. race — a contest
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. vault — a safe
  23. staff — employees
  24. cabinet — ministers

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