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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: wave · roll · cap · kid · fine · temple · safe · bass

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. roll — a cake
  5. bass — low music
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bass — the fish
  9. cap — of ice
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. roll — a list
  12. cap — a lid
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. cap — a hat
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. kid — to tease
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — all right
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. kid — child
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — out of danger

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