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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
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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: jam · branch · arm · mark · temple · safe · board · bear

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. bear — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. mark — a trace
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — to get on
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mark — a grade
  22. branch — a division
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — to put up with

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