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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.

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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: row · temple · season · drill · charge · bulb · face · tube

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. tube — a container
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bulb — for light
  7. charge — in control
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. face — to confront
  10. drill — a practice
  11. charge — electricity
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. season — of the year
  14. row — to paddle
  15. tube — the underground
  16. drill — army training
  17. charge — a price
  18. season — in sport
  19. face — part of the head
  20. face — to point toward
  21. bulb — for light
  22. drill — the tool
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. row — a line

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