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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: rock · chip · temple · pop · wave · can · drill · season

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. can — to be able to
  3. drill — a practice
  4. chip — for betting
  5. season — of the year
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. can — a tin
  10. drill — army training
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. pop — soda
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. rock — music
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. chip — to eat
  18. can — a tin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. season — in sport
  21. drill — the tool
  22. pop — to visit
  23. rock — a stone
  24. pop — music

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