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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: tear · safe · wake · temple · can · rash · cell · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. cell — in biology
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. can — a tin
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. rash — a series
  9. foot — a measure
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. tear — from crying
  12. wake — a trail
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. cell — a phone
  19. tear — from crying
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tear — to rip
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — out of danger

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