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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: temple · mug · bank · stand · vault · net · safe · cell

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. mug — a face
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. mug — a cup
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bank — for money
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. cell — a phone
  14. cell — in biology
  15. bank — for money
  16. mug — to rob
  17. net — for catching
  18. bank — of a river
  19. vault — a safe
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. net — in sport
  23. stand — to bear
  24. net — after costs

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