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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: saw · bear · temple · rest · firm · can · court · sharp

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. court — for sport
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. firm — a company
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bear — the animal
  10. saw — the tool
  11. court — of a king
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. rest — what's left
  15. firm — decided
  16. rest — a break
  17. court — of law
  18. saw — the tool
  19. firm — steady
  20. bear — the animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. sharp — clever

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