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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. craft — boats
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. bound — obliged
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bass — the fish
  8. stand — to bear
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. bound — certain
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. can — a tin
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bound — tied together
  16. craft — a skill
  17. hand — in cards
  18. can — a tin
  19. hand — help
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bass — low music
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bass — the instrument

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