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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: fine · mark · temple · mouse · cabinet · branch · sharp · pound

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. fine — high quality
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. sharp — clever
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. branch — a division
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. pound — a weight
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. mark — a trace
  19. fine — all right
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. fine — a penalty

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