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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: temple · game · cue · mug · mate · hand · bank · nail

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bank — of a river
  4. cue — a hint
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cue — a signal
  7. game — wild animals
  8. mate — a partner
  9. mug — a cup
  10. hand — help
  11. mug — a face
  12. bank — for money
  13. hand — in cards
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. mate — a friend
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mate — to breed
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bank — for money
  22. mug — to rob
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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