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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
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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: roll · suit · toast · row · bat · jam · cabinet · temple

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. row — a line
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. row — to paddle
  9. bat — the animal
  10. roll — a list
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. suit — to fit
  14. suit — clothes
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. roll — a cake
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. toast — bread
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. suit — in cards
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cabinet — ministers

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