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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: safe · current · tube · temple · snap · fall · ground · fan

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. ground — a position
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fall — to drop
  5. ground — the earth
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. current — electric
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. tube — a container
  11. current — happening now
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. snap — to click
  14. ground — crushed
  15. current — of water
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. fall — the season
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fall — to drop
  23. tube — the underground
  24. temple — a place of worship

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