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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
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: mark · temple · lash · cabinet · pitcher · coach · press · march

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a trace
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. press — a publisher
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. march — music
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. press — to push
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. march — the month
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. march — the month
  23. press — newspapers
  24. temple — a place of worship

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