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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: chip · rock · cabinet · object · leaves · rush · temple · march

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rush — hurry
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. object — an aim
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. march — the month
  9. rock — a stone
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. march — music
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. chip — for betting
  14. rock — music
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. march — the month
  19. chip — to eat
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. object — to protest
  24. rock — to move gently

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