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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
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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: bank · jam · suit · calf · temple · squash · rock · trunk

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. bank — of a river
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. rock — music
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. suit — to fit
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. suit — in cards
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bank — for money
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. suit — clothes
  19. rock — a stone
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bank — for money

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