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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: lie · temple · drill · mate · jam · pop · bass · saw

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. mate — a friend
  3. drill — army training
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. mate — to breed
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. drill — the tool
  9. bass — the fish
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. pop — music
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pop — to visit
  18. mate — a partner
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bass — low music
  23. lie — to recline
  24. pop — soda

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