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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: dip · fan · temple · cabinet · cell · roll · squash · press

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. cell — a phone
  9. press — to push
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cell — in biology
  13. squash — to crush
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. roll — a list
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. press — newspapers
  22. roll — a cake
  23. press — a publisher
  24. squash — the sport

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