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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mate — a partner
  4. bank — for money
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bank — of a river
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. date — the fruit
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. mug — a face
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a friend
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bank — for money
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — out of danger

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