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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: roll · lean · temple · branch · chip · fine · nail · mate

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. branch — a division
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. mate — a friend
  6. chip — for betting
  7. mate — a partner
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. lean — thin
  11. fine — high quality
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. mate — to breed
  14. roll — a list
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. fine — all right
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lean — to bend
  23. roll — a cake
  24. branch — of a tree

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