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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: safe · pitcher · jam · cabinet · snap · pit · calf · temple

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. snap — to click
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. pit — a hole
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. pit — in a race

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