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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: rush · kid · calf · temple · rock · leaves · fall · rash

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. fall — to drop
  6. rock — a stone
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fall — the season
  9. rush — hurry
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. fall — to drop
  14. kid — child
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. rock — music
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. kid — to tease
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. rash — a series

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