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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
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: branch · drill · straw · pass · pitch · cabinet · temple · rash

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pass — a permit
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rash — a series
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. pitch — completely
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. branch — a division
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. drill — a practice
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. rash — hasty
  24. straw — a straw man

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