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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 · bank · bark · mouse · roll · jam · bore · wake

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — a cake
  5. bark — to shout
  6. bore — to tire
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bank — for money
  13. wake — a trail
  14. bank — for money
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. bank — of a river
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bore — to drill
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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