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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: swing · temple · row · toast · rash · fine · racket · cue

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. rash — a series
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. row — a line
  5. cue — for pool
  6. row — to paddle
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. swing — to play on
  10. rash — hasty
  11. fine — high quality
  12. swing — music
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. fine — all right
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. cue — a hint
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. cue — a signal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. swing — in golf
  24. temple — a place of worship

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