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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
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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: safe · pit · chair · can · wave · capital · rush · temple

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. can — a tin
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. chair — a leader
  7. can — a tin
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pit — in a race
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. rush — hurry
  17. capital — a city
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pit — a hole
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. capital — money
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rush — a thrill

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