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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: firm · lash · temple · vault · leaves · nail · fan · stem

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. firm — decided
  6. vault — a safe
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. firm — a company
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. stem — to come from
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. firm — steady
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. fan — a supporter

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