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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: snap · track · safe · kid · leaves · jam · temple · fan

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. snap — to click
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. kid — child
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. track — to keep track
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. track — a song
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. kid — to tease
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. track — a path
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. fan — a supporter

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