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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
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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: rash · branch · chest · mug · temple · jam · hide · root

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. mug — a cup
  3. chest — of your body
  4. rash — a series
  5. root — the cause
  6. mug — to rob
  7. branch — a division
  8. root — of a plant
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rash — hasty
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. root — of a word
  18. mug — a face
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. chest — a box
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. chest — of your body

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