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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · kid · present · craft · rush · can · dip · cabinet

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. present — there
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. craft — boats
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. craft — a skill
  12. dip — to sink
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. present — the time now
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. kid — child
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. present — a gift
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. kid — to tease

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