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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: mine · safe · shower · club · temple · pass · bound · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. mine — for digging
  4. rest — a break
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rest — what's left
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. club — for dancing
  12. club — a group
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bound — obliged
  19. shower — rain
  20. club — for golf
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — tied together
  24. shower — to wash

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