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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: temple · fan · nail · bass · stand · wound · degree · bay

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. wound — an injury
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wound — an injury
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. bass — low music
  13. stand — to bear
  14. degree — an amount
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bass — the fish
  19. degree — from a university
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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