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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
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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: temple · present · object · branch · mug · net · bay · wound

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. object — to protest
  3. net — for catching
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. mug — a face
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. object — an aim
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. present — a gift
  13. present — the time now
  14. wound — an injury
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. present — there
  19. wound — an injury
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. net — in sport
  22. net — after costs
  23. branch — a division
  24. object — a thing

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