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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: craft · content · track · temple · dip · safe · bulb · ruler

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. content — the amount
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. track — to keep track
  7. content — happy
  8. dip — to sink
  9. track — a path
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bulb — for light
  16. craft — a skill
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. track — a song
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bulb — for light
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. dip — a sauce

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