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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: vault · safe · mine · tube · nail · mug · club · temple

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. mug — a face
  5. mine — for digging
  6. mug — to rob
  7. vault — a safe
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. club — for dancing
  10. tube — a container
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. club — a group
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. club — for golf
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mug — a cup
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. nail — for a hammer

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