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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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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: temple · ball · dip · calf · rule · saw · wake · safe

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. dip — to sink
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. saw — the tool
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. ball — a great time
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wake — a trail
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. rule — government
  23. ball — a dance
  24. ball — a round shape

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