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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.

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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: bear · date · stand · temple · calf · band · bay · mug

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. stand — to bear
  8. mug — a cup
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. bear — the animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. date — the fruit
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. band — a music group
  24. mug — a face

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