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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: lie · hand · foot · branch · temple · file · leaves · scale

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. scale — size or range
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. scale — in music
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. file — a line of people
  9. file — a document
  10. branch — a division
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. hand — help
  15. hand — in cards
  16. file — a tool
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lie — to recline
  19. foot — a measure
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. lie — an untruth

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