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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.

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: temple · bulb · chest · mine · firm · stick · safe · rush

  1. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  2. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. chest — of your body
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mine — for digging
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. chest — a box
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. firm — decided
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. firm — steady
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. firm — a company
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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