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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: race · safe · craft · chest · rash · rush · temple · stand

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. race — humankind
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. chest — of your body
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. craft — a skill
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rash — hasty
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. chest — of your body
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. craft — boats
  17. stand — to bear
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. race — a contest
  22. chest — a box
  23. race — the arms race
  24. safe — a strongbox

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