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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: march · saw · cabinet · hide · temple · stand · roll · pass

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. march — the month
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. roll — a list
  12. stand — to bear
  13. saw — the tool
  14. march — the month
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. roll — a cake
  22. march — music
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cabinet — ministers

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