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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: pop · cold · safe · temple · pass · plane · field · coach

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. The water is too ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  20. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. field — for sport
  4. field — a subject
  5. cold — not warm
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pop — soda
  13. plane — a tool
  14. field — farmland
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cold — an illness
  20. cold — the Cold War
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pop — music
  24. pass — to succeed

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