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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bank — for money
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. spell — letters
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. suit — clothes
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bank — for money
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. spell — magic
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. mark — a grade
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mark — a trace
  23. suit — in cards
  24. spell — a short time

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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