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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: stand · branch · rash · temple · arm · pass · swing · march

  1. David sat on the ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — to play on
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. rash — hasty
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. march — music
  8. pass — a permit
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. rash — a series
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. march — the month
  13. stand — to bear
  14. march — the month
  15. branch — a division
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. swing — in golf
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. swing — music
  24. arm — part of the body

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