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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.

Make a worksheet

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: ball · object · mug · temple · fine · mouse · root · safe

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. fine — all right
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mug — to rob
  12. object — an aim
  13. root — of a word
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. object — a thing
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. root — the cause
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mug — a face
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. root — of a plant
  24. safe — a strongbox

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