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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
468
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: temple · mate · leaves · pitch · foot · tube · track · bank

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bank — for money
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — the underground
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. mate — to breed
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. track — a song
  16. track — a path
  17. bank — of a river
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — a partner
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. track — to keep track
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bank — for money

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