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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: rock · safe · kick · coach · temple · band · mouse · squash

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. squash — to crush
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. band — a music group
  5. squash — the sport
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. rock — a stone
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rock — music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. band — a ring
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. kick — in football

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