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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.

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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: stand · can · mark · mug · temple · craft · fork · kick

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. mug — a face
  3. can — a tin
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. craft — boats
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. kick — in football
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mark — a grade
  15. can — to be able to
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fork — in a road
  18. craft — a skill
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. mug — to rob
  22. can — a tin
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. mark — a trace

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