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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 · scale · safe · tear · mug · charge · racket · key

  1. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. mug — to rob
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. charge — a price
  7. tear — from crying
  8. mug — a cup
  9. key — in music
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. tear — from crying
  14. charge — electricity
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. key — for a lock
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. charge — in control
  19. mug — a face
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. key — the most important part
  23. scale — in music
  24. scale — size or range

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