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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: can · wake · rash · temple · safe · prune · bore · racket

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bore — to tire
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. can — a tin
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. prune — to trim
  9. rash — hasty
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. can — a tin
  12. prune — to trim
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bore — to drill
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. rash — a series
  24. racket — for tennis

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