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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 120 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: swing · temple · squash · suit · cabinet · rush · bound · leaves

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bound — tied together
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. squash — to crush
  8. bound — certain
  9. rush — hurry
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. suit — in cards
  12. swing — in golf
  13. swing — music
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. squash — the sport
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — obliged
  18. suit — to fit
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. swing — to play on
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rush — a thrill

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