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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: foot · suit · lean · kick · plane · trunk · stock · temple

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. foot — a measure
  3. stock — shares
  4. suit — to fit
  5. kick — in football
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. lean — to bend
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. suit — in cards
  12. stock — goods
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. suit — clothes
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. plane — a tool

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