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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. game — a match
  3. can — to be able to
  4. staff — employees
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. lean — to bend
  8. staff — employees
  9. game — wild animals
  10. can — a tin
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bank — for money
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. bank — for money
  17. rest — what's left
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rest — a break
  21. bank — of a river
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. can — a tin
  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