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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: foot · temple · bulb · safe · band · leaves · calf · cabinet

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bulb — for light
  4. band — a music group
  5. band — a ring
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. bulb — for light
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. foot — a measure
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. temple — side of the head

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