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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: hide · wound · band · mouse · can · branch · bear · temple

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. branch — a division
  4. can — a tin
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. can — to be able to
  7. band — a ring
  8. wound — an injury
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bear — the animal
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. wound — an injury
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. band — a music group
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. can — a tin
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bear — the animal

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