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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: temple · hand · safe · press · stick · drill · stock · rash

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  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. drill — a practice
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. rash — a series
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. drill — the tool
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stock — goods
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — to push
  15. rash — hasty
  16. press — a publisher
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. drill — army training
  19. stock — shares
  20. hand — help
  21. hand — in cards
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. rash — on the skin
  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