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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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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 · stick · perch · bank · jam · coach · saw · racket

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bank — for money
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. bank — for money
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bank — of a river
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. perch — the fish
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. saw — the tool

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