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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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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: leaves · hide · temple · chest · arm · pound · safe · nail

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. My father caught me by 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. pound — a weight
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. chest — of your body
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. chest — of your body
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. chest — a box
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. arm — part of the body
  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