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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.

Make a worksheet

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: sharp · coach · temple · mate · vault · can · rest · leaves

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mate — a friend
  4. mate — to breed
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. sharp — clever
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. vault — a safe
  13. can — a tin
  14. rest — what's left
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. mate — a partner
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rest — a break
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. can — a tin
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. leaves — lets stay

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