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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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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: band · trunk · toast · cabinet · track · deal · temple · racket

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  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. temple — side of the head
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. track — a path
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. band — a music group
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. track — to keep track
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. band — a ring
  17. deal — to handle
  18. track — a song
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. toast — bread
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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