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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fan · bank · bear · toast · rush · arm · wax · temple

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bank — for money
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bank — for money
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. toast — bread
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bear — the animal
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. fan — a supporter

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