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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 120 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: temple · board · pitcher · bank · mate · cabinet · stand · sharp

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — for money
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. sharp — clever
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. stand — to bear
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. board — to get on
  18. mate — a partner
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mate — to breed
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bank — of a river
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. sharp — exactly

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