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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: temple · vault · bound · land · mug · mate · calf · safe

  1. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bound — certain
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. bound — obliged
  9. mug — to rob
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. vault — a safe
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mate — a partner
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mate — to breed
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. land — a country
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. land — to come down
  24. mug — a face

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