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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: drill · safe · jam · leaves · rash · net · temple · stock

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. net — for catching
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. drill — army training
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. net — in sport
  8. drill — a practice
  9. drill — the tool
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stock — goods
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. rash — a series
  20. net — after costs
  21. rash — hasty
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. leaves — lets stay

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