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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. bank — for money
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rule — a law
  5. bank — for money
  6. rule — government
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. lean — thin
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. fork — in a road
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stand — to bear
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. bank — of a river
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. temple — side of the head

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