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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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Word bank
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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. can — to be able to
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. rush — hurry
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. sharp — clever
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. can — a tin
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. can — a tin
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. snap — to click
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. safe — a strongbox

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