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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: mark · safe · stock · charge · cue · scale · chest · temple

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. charge — a price
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. scale — size or range
  6. charge — electricity
  7. mark — a grade
  8. stock — shares
  9. chest — of your body
  10. chest — a box
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mark — a trace
  13. chest — of your body
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — for pool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. charge — in control
  21. stock — goods
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. cue — a signal
  24. scale — in music

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