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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. club — a group
  6. club — for golf
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bank — for money
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. wax — to grow
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. club — for dancing
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. bank — for money
  24. prune — to trim

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