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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. bound — obliged
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bound — certain
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. drill — the tool
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. drill — a practice
  12. mate — to breed
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. mate — a partner
  15. press — newspapers
  16. drill — army training
  17. press — to push
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. ball — a dance
  21. bound — tied together
  22. ball — a great time
  23. mate — a friend
  24. press — a publisher

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