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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: content · cabinet · root · temple · bound · rock · racket · bass

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bound — tied together
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. root — of a word
  6. rock — music
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. rock — a stone
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bound — certain
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. bound — obliged
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. root — of a plant
  16. content — the amount
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. root — the cause
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. content — happy
  21. bass — low music
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. bass — the fish
  24. cabinet — ministers

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