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

Word bank: fan · jam · stock · safe · temple · saw · hide · rash

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. stock — shares
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. saw — the tool
  9. stock — goods
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. rash — a series
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. rash — hasty

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