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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: temple · hand · content · lie · branch · lash · fan · mate

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. hand — in cards
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. content — happy
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. mate — a partner
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. content — the amount
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. hand — help
  23. branch — a division
  24. temple — a place of worship

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