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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
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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: kick · can · current · saw · spell · bound · safe · temple

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bound — tied together
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. current — of water
  10. can — a tin
  11. spell — a short time
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bound — certain
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. spell — magic
  17. current — electric
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bound — obliged
  21. current — happening now
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. saw — the tool
  24. kick — in football

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