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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 · nail · mouse · content · cap · toast · saw · can

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. saw — the tool
  5. cap — a hat
  6. content — happy
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — bread
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. content — the amount
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. can — a tin
  22. cap — of ice
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. temple — a place of worship

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