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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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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: safe · mate · roll · mouse · rest · mark · temple · bound

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. roll — a cake
  3. mate — a friend
  4. mate — a partner
  5. bound — certain
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bound — tied together
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. rest — a break
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bound — obliged
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. roll — a list
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rest — what's left
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mouse — for a computer

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