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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: jam · temple · race · cue · cabinet · spring · hide · bore

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. race — the arms race
  4. cue — for pool
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. cue — a signal
  9. spring — the season
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bore — to drill
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. race — humankind
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. race — a contest
  19. spring — a coil
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bore — to tire
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cabinet — ministers

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