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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: perch · craft · bank · lean · cue · patient · temple · season

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. bank — for money
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. season — in sport
  8. cue — a signal
  9. perch — the fish
  10. craft — boats
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. craft — a skill
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lean — thin
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cue — a hint
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. lean — to bend
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. cue — for pool
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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