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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: roll · saw · nail · temple · deal · mate · pass · bulb

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. deal — to handle
  6. roll — a list
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. roll — a cake
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. bulb — for light
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mate — a partner
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mate — a friend
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pass — to spend time

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