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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 · present · leaves · fan · swing · bore · squash · toast

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. swing — to play on
  3. present — a gift
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. toast — bread
  7. present — the time now
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. squash — to crush
  10. bore — to tire
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. present — there
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. swing — music
  18. squash — the sport
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. swing — in golf

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