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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. suit — in cards
  4. board — a committee
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. branch — a division
  7. staff — employees
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bulb — for light
  11. suit — to fit
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. board — to get on
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. staff — a stick
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bulb — for light
  23. staff — employees
  24. board — a flat piece

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