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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: foot · rush · temple · cap · bear · squash · wake · fan

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. squash — to crush
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. wake — a trail
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. squash — the sport
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bear — the animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rush — hurry
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. cap — of ice
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. fan — a supporter

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