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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. deal — to handle
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. date — the fruit
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. march — the month
  9. toast — bread
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. march — music
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. bank — of a river
  15. track — a path
  16. bank — for money
  17. march — the month
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. track — a song
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bank — for money
  23. track — to keep track
  24. toast — the most admired

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