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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: file · toast · roll · can · temple · game · branch · hide

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. can — to be able to
  3. file — a document
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. game — a match
  6. branch — a division
  7. can — a tin
  8. roll — a cake
  9. roll — a list
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. game — wild animals
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. toast — bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. file — a line of people
  22. can — a tin
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. file — a 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