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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 · chest · present · branch · temple · wave · chip · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. chip — for betting
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. present — a gift
  9. chest — a box
  10. present — there
  11. foot — a measure
  12. chest — of your body
  13. present — the time now
  14. chip — to eat
  15. rock — music
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. chest — of your body
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. branch — a division

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