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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.

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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: date · temple · calf · tube · leaves · cap · shower · bank

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. cap — a lid
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — for money
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. shower — to wash
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. cap — of ice
  11. tube — the underground
  12. cap — a hat
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. tube — a container
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. date — the fruit
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bank — of a river
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. shower — rain
  24. date — on the calendar

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