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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: temple · sharp · can · date · mate · hide · nail · pitcher

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mate — a partner
  5. can — a tin
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. can — to be able to
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. mate — to breed
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. mate — a friend
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. can — a tin
  19. sharp — clever
  20. date — the fruit
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. nail — for a hammer

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