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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: tube · rush · firm · fan · temple · bank · ball · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. tube — the underground
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. rush — hurry
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. foot — a measure
  15. tube — a container
  16. firm — decided
  17. ball — a great time
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. firm — steady
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. firm — a company
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. ball — a dance

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