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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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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: safe · firm · temple · ground · cabinet · clip · toast · arm

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ground — a position
  5. clip — to cut
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. clip — for paper
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. ground — crushed
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. firm — steady
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. firm — a company
  22. firm — decided
  23. toast — bread
  24. cabinet — ministers

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