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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.

Make a worksheet

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: march · pass · bound · temple · roll · mine · hide · wave

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. bound — certain
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mine — for digging
  7. roll — a list
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. march — the month
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. march — the month
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — obliged
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. march — music
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. roll — a cake

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