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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: key · wake · bore · cabinet · pop · bank · march · temple

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. pop — music
  5. bore — to tire
  6. march — music
  7. march — the month
  8. pop — soda
  9. pop — to visit
  10. key — in music
  11. bore — to drill
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. march — the month
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. key — the most important part
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bank — of a river
  20. wake — a trail
  21. bank — for money
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bank — for money

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