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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 120 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: fan · lie · bulb · land · calf · bank · temple · foot

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  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. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. land — to come down
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. land — a country
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. land — ground
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. lie — to recline
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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