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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.

Words on the sheet
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: capital · mug · bass · rock · game · bore · safe · temple

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bass — low music
  4. capital — money
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bore — to drill
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mug — a face
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. game — wild animals
  12. game — a match
  13. bore — to tire
  14. rock — a stone
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. capital — a city
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bass — the fish
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bore — gave birth

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