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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 120 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: fine · bore · bulb · dip · saw · temple · fan · can

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bore — to drill
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. can — a tin
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. saw — the tool
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. dip — to sink
  18. can — to be able to
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fine — high quality
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. can — a tin
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fine — all right

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