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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: safe · kick · bank · cabinet · rock · temple · jam · lie

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bank — for money
  4. kick — in football
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bank — for money
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rock — music
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lie — to recline
  24. temple — side of the head

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