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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · coach · chest · fan · key · rock · club · branch

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. chest — of your body
  6. rock — a stone
  7. key — for a lock
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. club — for golf
  10. club — for dancing
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. club — a group
  13. branch — a division
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. key — the most important part
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. chest — a box
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. key — in music
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. chest — of your body

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