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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: cabinet · net · pass · cap · pop · press · sharp · temple

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. cap — a hat
  3. net — in sport
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. pop — soda
  8. press — a publisher
  9. pop — music
  10. sharp — clever
  11. cap — a lid
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pass — a permit
  16. cap — of ice
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. net — after costs
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. net — for catching
  24. sharp — with an edge

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