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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 120 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: mate · charge · ball · spring · squash · temple · present · safe

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. spring — of water
  4. mate — a friend
  5. charge — a price
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. spring — the season
  8. squash — the sport
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. spring — a coil
  12. charge — in control
  13. charge — electricity
  14. ball — a great time
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. mate — a partner
  17. present — there
  18. mate — to breed
  19. squash — to crush
  20. present — the time now
  21. present — a gift
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. ball — a dance

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