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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: bulb · mate · date · march · cabinet · sharp · temple · cue

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. mate — to breed
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. march — the month
  5. date — the fruit
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. mate — a partner
  10. march — music
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. march — the month
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mate — a friend
  17. cue — a signal
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bulb — for light
  20. cue — for pool
  21. sharp — clever
  22. cue — a hint
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. temple — a place of worship

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