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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: cabinet · pound · bowl · bound · temple · can · present · shower

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. shower — to wash
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. can — to be able to
  7. present — a gift
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pound — a weight
  10. shower — rain
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. can — a tin
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. present — the time now
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. can — a tin
  19. bound — certain
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. present — there
  24. pound — to hit hard

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