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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ball · suit · scale · lash · wave · branch · temple · stand

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. scale — in music
  4. scale — size or range
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. suit — in cards
  9. stand — to bear
  10. suit — clothes
  11. ball — a great time
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ball — a dance
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. suit — to fit
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. branch — a division
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. temple — a place of worship

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