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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: pass · rush · wound · drill · temple · row · cabinet · perch

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. row — to paddle
  4. drill — a practice
  5. drill — army training
  6. perch — the fish
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. wound — an injury
  11. drill — the tool
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. wound — an injury
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. row — a line
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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