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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stand · board · date · season · mine · temple · stick · ball

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. date — the fruit
  8. ball — a dance
  9. board — to get on
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. season — in sport
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. season — of the year
  17. mine — for digging
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. ball — a great time
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. season — to add flavour

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