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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 120 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: cue · safe · temple · clip · charge · wake · fine · squash

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. clip — for paper
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. fine — all right
  5. cue — for pool
  6. charge — in control
  7. cue — a signal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. clip — to cut
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. squash — to crush
  13. charge — a price
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wake — a trail
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. charge — electricity
  20. clip — a video
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. fine — high quality
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. cue — a hint

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