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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: calf · rush · temple · leaves · bank · suit · roll · chip

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. rush — hurry
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. chip — for betting
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bank — for money
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — clothes
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. roll — a cake
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. chip — to eat
  19. bank — for money
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bank — of a river
  22. suit — to fit
  23. roll — a list
  24. temple — a place of worship

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