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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
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: march · toast · mug · stock · fine · temple · fall · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. march — the month
  4. mug — a face
  5. stock — shares
  6. cue — a signal
  7. stock — goods
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. fall — to drop
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. fine — all right
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. fall — to drop
  15. march — music
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. fine — high quality
  19. cue — for pool
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. fall — the season
  22. march — the month
  23. toast — bread
  24. fine — a penalty

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