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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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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 · tear · calf · cabinet · pass · press · firm · temple

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. firm — steady
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. press — a publisher
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. tear — from crying
  8. pass — a permit
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. firm — a company
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. press — to push
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. tear — to rip
  16. firm — decided
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. press — newspapers
  21. tear — from crying
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. cabinet — ministers

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