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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 · mug · land · bound · wake · cabinet · press · bank

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. bank — for money
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bound — obliged
  7. land — a country
  8. bank — of a river
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. bound — certain
  13. press — newspapers
  14. land — ground
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bank — for money
  18. mug — a face
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mug — to rob
  21. press — to push
  22. land — to come down
  23. wake — a trail
  24. press — a publisher

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