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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fan · can · stand · chair · prune · bowl · lean · temple

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. prune — to trim
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. can — a tin
  10. prune — to trim
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. can — a tin
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lean — thin
  20. lean — to bend
  21. stand — to bear
  22. chair — a leader
  23. temple — side of the head
  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