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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: lean · bank · temple · fan · staff · mark · swing · toast

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. lean — thin
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bank — for money
  8. swing — to play on
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bank — of a river
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mark — a trace
  14. swing — in golf
  15. staff — employees
  16. toast — bread
  17. staff — employees
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. swing — music
  20. mark — a grade
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. staff — a stick
  23. bank — for money
  24. fan — to cool the air

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