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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: bass · board · jam · temple · fan · cabinet · drill · bore

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. board — to get on
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bore — to tire
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. board — a committee
  15. drill — a practice
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. drill — the tool
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bass — low music
  20. drill — army training
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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