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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: temple · pitcher · band · racket · cap · drill · hide · safe

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. cap — a lid
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. cap — of ice
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. drill — a practice
  15. band — a ring
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. drill — the tool
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cap — a hat
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. band — a music group

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