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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: press · land · temple · bank · foot · leaves · swing · stick

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. foot — a measure
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. swing — music
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. press — a publisher
  12. bank — for money
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. swing — in golf
  15. land — a country
  16. press — to push
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. press — newspapers
  20. swing — to play on
  21. land — ground
  22. bank — for money
  23. land — to come down
  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