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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
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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: bear · date · temple · wake · pop · toast · board · jam

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. bear — the animal
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. toast — bread
  7. board — to get on
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. wake — a trail
  10. pop — to visit
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. pop — soda
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. pop — music
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. bear — the animal
  22. board — a committee
  23. date — the fruit
  24. temple — side of the head

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