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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: bank · bat · can · spell · temple · safe · lash · court

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. spell — a short time
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. can — a tin
  8. bank — for money
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. court — of law
  11. bank — for money
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. court — of a king
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. spell — magic
  17. bat — the animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. court — for sport
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. spell — letters
  24. bank — of a river

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