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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: mouse · rash · bore · cabinet · stock · fan · hide · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bore — to drill
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bore — to tire
  6. rash — a series
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. stock — shares
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rash — hasty
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. stock — goods
  24. hide — to keep secret

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