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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: date · temple · pitcher · deal · board · pass · mouse · toast

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. toast — bread
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. board — to get on
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. date — the fruit
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. deal — to handle
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. board — a committee
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. temple — side of the head

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