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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: cabinet · row · temple · mouse · can · mate · spring · chest

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. spring — a coil
  3. spring — the season
  4. row — to paddle
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. chest — of your body
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. spring — of water
  11. mate — a friend
  12. chest — a box
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. chest — of your body
  16. mate — to breed
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mate — a partner
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. row — a line
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. row — a quarrel

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