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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: can · tube · file · safe · deal · temple · racket · bore

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. tube — a container
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bore — to drill
  6. tube — the underground
  7. file — a line of people
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. deal — to handle
  11. can — to be able to
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. can — a tin
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. can — a tin
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. file — a document
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. file — a tool

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