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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · drill · file · temple · stand · calf · tear · net

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. tear — from crying
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. stand — to bear
  5. net — for catching
  6. drill — a practice
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. drill — the tool
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. drill — army training
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. tear — from crying
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. file — a tool
  16. tear — to rip
  17. net — after costs
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. net — in sport
  23. file — a document
  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