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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bank — for money
  4. firm — steady
  5. season — in sport
  6. firm — decided
  7. hand — in cards
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bank — of a river
  10. hand — help
  11. rash — hasty
  12. pop — music
  13. pop — soda
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. firm — a company
  18. toast — bread
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. bank — for money
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. season — of the year

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