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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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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: temple · roll · suit · stick · mug · press · nail · bound

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — to fit
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — certain
  6. press — newspapers
  7. mug — a cup
  8. press — to push
  9. mug — a face
  10. press — a publisher
  11. suit — in cards
  12. bound — obliged
  13. suit — clothes
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. mug — to rob
  23. bound — tied together
  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