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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lean — thin
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. wake — a trail
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. lean — to bend
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. cell — a phone
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. pass — a permit
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. cell — in biology

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