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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.

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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: nail · fan · fine · cue · game · temple · safe · bear

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. fine — all right
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. cue — a hint
  10. game — wild animals
  11. bear — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cue — a signal
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. cue — for pool
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. fine — high quality
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. game — a match
  24. fan — a supporter

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