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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. net — after costs
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bank — of a river
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. rock — music
  8. net — in sport
  9. bank — for money
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. object — a thing
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. rock — a stone
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. net — for catching
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. object — to protest
  21. object — an aim
  22. mug — a face
  23. bank — for money
  24. mug — a cup

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