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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: rock · bowl · can · temple · mate · cue · sharp · bore

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. rock — music
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bore — to tire
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. cue — for pool
  9. can — a tin
  10. bore — to drill
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — clever
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. can — a tin
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. cue — a signal
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mate — a partner
  24. cue — a hint

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