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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. rash — a series
  3. fine — all right
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. race — a contest
  6. suit — clothes
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. suit — in cards
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. tube — a container
  12. rash — hasty
  13. race — the arms race
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. race — humankind
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. branch — a division
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. cell — in biology
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. fine — high quality
  24. cell — a phone

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