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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: date · temple · bowl · object · mark · face · calf · mate

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. mark — a grade
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. object — a thing
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — a trace
  11. object — an aim
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. face — part of the head
  14. face — to point toward
  15. object — to protest
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. date — the fruit
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. face — to confront

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