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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 120 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: branch · pitcher · racket · safe · cap · tube · bowl · temple

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. tube — the underground
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cap — a hat
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. cap — of ice
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. tube — a container
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. cap — a lid
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pitcher — a jug

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