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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.

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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: bore · tube · rock · safe · firm · temple · pitcher · dip

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. rock — music
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bore — to drill
  11. firm — decided
  12. firm — a company
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bore — to tire
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. tube — a container
  24. dip — to sink

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