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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.

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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: foot · can · squash · mark · temple · bound · stand · rock

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. squash — to crush
  4. bound — obliged
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. foot — a measure
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mark — a grade
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — a stone
  24. mark — a trace

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