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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
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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: track · plane · wake · bay · temple · jam · cabinet · squash

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. track — a song
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wake — a trail
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. squash — the sport
  10. squash — to crush
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. plane — a tool
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. track — a path
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. track — to keep track
  24. squash — the vegetable

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