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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: branch · last · drill · spring · temple · object · lie · mug

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. object — an aim
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a cup
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. object — to protest
  8. last — finally
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. lie — to recline
  11. drill — the tool
  12. spring — a coil
  13. mug — a face
  14. spring — of water
  15. drill — army training
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. branch — a division
  18. last — final
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. spring — the season
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. drill — a practice
  24. last — to go on

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