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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. stock — shares
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bound — tied together
  6. club — a group
  7. stock — goods
  8. roll — a list
  9. club — for golf
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. drill — the tool
  17. rock — a stone
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. club — for dancing
  20. rush — hurry
  21. drill — a practice
  22. roll — a cake
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rock — music

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