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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 120 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: craft · rash · stand · temple · club · bound · face · squash

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. stand — to bear
  3. club — for dancing
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. face — part of the head
  6. craft — boats
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. bound — obliged
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bound — tied together
  12. squash — the sport
  13. bound — certain
  14. craft — a skill
  15. rash — hasty
  16. club — a group
  17. face — to point toward
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. club — for golf
  20. face — to confront
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. squash — to crush
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. rash — a series

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