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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: cold · mouse · temple · lean · can · foot · nail · stand

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. can — a tin
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. cold — an illness
  8. foot — a measure
  9. can — to be able to
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. lean — thin
  12. can — a tin
  13. lean — to bend
  14. stand — to bear
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. cold — the Cold War
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. cold — not warm

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