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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 120 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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. track — a path
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — a division
  11. bass — the fish
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. foot — a measure
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bass — low music
  20. track — to keep track
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. lean — to bend
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lean — thin

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