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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.

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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 · bass · temple · dip · foot · lie · cabinet · nail

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bass — the fish
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bass — low music
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. branch — a division
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. foot — a measure
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. lie — to recline
  24. temple — side of the head

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