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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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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: firm · suit · snap · mouse · last · temple · pass · stand

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. firm — decided
  4. last — finally
  5. last — final
  6. suit — clothes
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. last — to go on
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. firm — steady
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. suit — to fit
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. firm — a company
  20. pass — a permit
  21. snap — to click
  22. stand — to bear
  23. suit — in cards
  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