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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: chest · can · snap · bass · cabinet · safe · kid · temple

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. can — a tin
  4. bass — the fish
  5. chest — of your body
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. kid — to tease
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. snap — to click
  10. can — to be able to
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. can — a tin
  14. chest — of your body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bass — low music
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. kid — child
  24. safe — a strongbox

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