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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: safe · jam · temple · cabinet · racket · spell · face · ruler

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. spell — letters
  5. spell — a short time
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. face — to point toward
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. spell — magic
  14. face — to confront
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. face — part of the head
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. ruler — for measuring

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