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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: coach · kick · bank · can · temple · toast · spell · date

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. spell — a short time
  5. toast — bread
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. spell — magic
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. can — a tin
  13. spell — letters
  14. bank — of a river
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. can — a tin
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bank — for money
  22. date — the fruit
  23. toast — the most admired
  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