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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: branch · temple · perch · club · bulb · foot · object · arm

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. club — for golf
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. club — a group
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bulb — for light
  10. perch — the fish
  11. club — for dancing
  12. branch — a division
  13. object — a thing
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. object — to protest
  22. foot — a measure
  23. object — an aim
  24. temple — a place of worship

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