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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: temple · calf · stand · can · hand · chip · cabinet · band

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. band — a ring
  3. chip — for betting
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. stand — to bear
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. band — a music group
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. can — to be able to
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. hand — help
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. chip — to eat
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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