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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: jam · toast · temple · march · ground · pop · patient · bank

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. toast — bread
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. pop — music
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. pop — soda
  7. ground — the earth
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. march — music
  10. bank — for money
  11. march — the month
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. pop — to visit
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bank — of a river
  18. ground — a position
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bank — for money
  23. ground — crushed
  24. march — the month

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