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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: squash · bank · temple · hide · season · nail · arm · lean

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. season — of the year
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. squash — the sport
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. bank — of a river
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. squash — to crush
  14. lean — to bend
  15. bank — for money
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bank — for money
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. lean — thin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. season — in sport

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