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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: board · bound · stem · dip · toast · fall · craft · temple

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. bound — tied together
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. dip — to sink
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bound — obliged
  8. craft — boats
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. craft — a skill
  13. board — to get on
  14. fall — the season
  15. fall — to drop
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bound — certain
  20. fall — to drop
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. toast — bread
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. stem — to come from

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