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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: chip · rock · hide · staff · branch · temple · vault · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. chip — to eat
  6. rock — music
  7. branch — a division
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. chip — for betting
  12. rock — a stone
  13. staff — employees
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. vault — a safe
  16. staff — a stick
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. staff — employees
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. hide — animal skin

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