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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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 — part of the body
  2. fine — high quality
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. spring — of water
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. roll — a list
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. snap — to click
  14. roll — a cake
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hand — in cards
  17. rush — hurry
  18. hand — help
  19. spring — a coil
  20. fine — all right
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. spring — the season
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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