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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: foot · cue · bank · temple · file · branch · cabinet · date

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. file — a line of people
  3. file — a document
  4. foot — a measure
  5. cue — for pool
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. cue — a hint
  8. file — a tool
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. bank — of a river
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bank — for money
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bank — for money
  19. branch — a division
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — a signal
  24. foot — part of the body

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