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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: nail · lie · ruler · pitcher · temple · bear · race · safe

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bear — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. race — the arms race
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. race — a contest

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