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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bank — for money
  3. court — for sport
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. court — of law
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. net — after costs
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bank — for money
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. toast — bread
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. court — of a king
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bank — of a river
  23. net — in sport
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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