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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: row · temple · march · cap · sharp · rush · wave · bowl

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. row — to paddle
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. march — the month
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — clever
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cap — of ice
  12. march — the month
  13. cap — a lid
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. row — a line
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cap — a hat
  24. rush — to hurry

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