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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · cold · lie · safe · nail · temple · hand · patient

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The water is too ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. hand — help
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cold — not warm
  8. track — a path
  9. cold — the Cold War
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. track — a song
  13. track — to keep track
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. hand — in cards
  17. cold — an illness
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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