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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.

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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: charge · safe · temple · dip · degree · nail · spring · rash

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. charge — a price
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rash — a series
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. charge — electricity
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. dip — to sink
  12. spring — of water
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. rash — hasty
  16. degree — temperature
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. spring — a coil
  20. degree — from a university
  21. spring — the season
  22. degree — an amount
  23. charge — in control
  24. dip — to dunk

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