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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  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. pop — soda
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. drill — the tool
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. pop — to visit
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bulb — for light
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. rush — hurry
  13. roll — a cake
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. drill — a practice
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. drill — army training
  18. pop — music
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. roll — a list
  22. bulb — for light
  23. racket — a loud noise
  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