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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. last — finally
  4. last — final
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. firm — a company
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bound — obliged
  10. firm — decided
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. march — the month
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bound — tied together
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. march — music
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. march — the month
  20. last — to go on
  21. firm — steady
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bound — certain

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