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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. stock — goods
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. pass — a permit
  17. key — in music
  18. stock — shares
  19. band — a music group
  20. band — a ring
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. key — for a lock

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