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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
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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: pass · cabinet · temple · calf · cold · saw · toast · track

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pass — a permit
  3. track — a path
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. cold — an illness
  8. toast — bread
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cold — not warm
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. track — a song
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. track — to keep track
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. cold — the Cold War
  24. temple — a place of worship

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