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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: racket · safe · calf · kid · roll · cabinet · drill · temple

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  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. drill — army training
  2. kid — child
  3. drill — the tool
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. kid — to tease
  13. roll — a list
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. drill — a practice
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. roll — a cake
  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