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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: wake · pop · safe · rash · temple · bank · jam · kid

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bank — for money
  10. pop — soda
  11. pop — music
  12. bank — of a river
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. wake — a trail
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. kid — to tease
  18. rash — a series
  19. rash — hasty
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. kid — child
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bank — for money

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