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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 120 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
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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: mark · temple · net · safe · fine · firm · saw · swing

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. net — for catching
  3. swing — to play on
  4. net — in sport
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. saw — the tool
  7. firm — a company
  8. fine — all right
  9. mark — a grade
  10. fine — high quality
  11. swing — in golf
  12. mark — a trace
  13. firm — decided
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. swing — music
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. saw — the tool
  21. firm — steady
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. net — after costs

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