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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: bear · perch · nail · chair · cabinet · bank · track · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. bank — of a river
  3. chair — a leader
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. track — a song
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bear — the animal
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bank — for money
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bank — for money
  18. track — a path
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bear — the animal
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. perch — the fish

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