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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.

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: foot · present · row · can · bank · temple · patient · tube

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. can — a tin
  4. bank — for money
  5. present — the time now
  6. bank — for money
  7. tube — a container
  8. row — to paddle
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. bank — of a river
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. tube — the underground
  14. present — a gift
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. foot — a measure
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. present — there
  23. row — a line
  24. can — a tin

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