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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: fork · drill · temple · stick · nail · board · wax · safe

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. fork — in a road
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. board — a committee
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. board — to get on
  12. wax — to grow
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. drill — the tool
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. drill — a practice
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. safe — out of danger

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