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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. rest — a break
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. can — a tin
  10. roll — a list
  11. row — a line
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bass — low music
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. bass — the fish
  18. can — a tin
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — what's left
  22. bank — for money
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bank — for money

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