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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 has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. hand — help
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. hand — in cards
  6. toast — bread
  7. current — electric
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. object — an aim
  10. staff — employees
  11. tear — to rip
  12. object — a thing
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — of water
  17. staff — a stick
  18. object — to protest
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. tear — from crying
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. tear — from crying
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. staff — employees

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