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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: rock · temple · bay · leaves · court · march · face · nail

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. march — music
  3. court — for sport
  4. march — the month
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rock — music
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. court — of law
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. march — the month
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. court — of a king
  16. face — part of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. face — to point toward
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. face — to confront
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. rock — a stone

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