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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: leaves · temple · stock · snap · cabinet · ruler · cap · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. stock — goods
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. sharp — clever
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. cap — a hat
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. cap — of ice
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stock — shares
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. snap — to click
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. cap — a lid

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