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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: bowl · tube · current · safe · suit · rock · wound · temple

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. tube — the underground
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. suit — in cards
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. suit — to fit
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. current — electric
  9. suit — clothes
  10. rock — music
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. current — happening now
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wound — an injury
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. current — of water
  18. tube — a container
  19. rock — a stone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wound — an injury

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