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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. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. pop — music
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. pop — to visit
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. drill — army training
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. drill — a practice
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pop — soda
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. sharp — clever
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. tear — from crying
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. tear — from crying
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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