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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: game · ruler · pit · mark · temple · bark · season · bulb

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bulb — for light
  3. season — in sport
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. season — of the year
  7. mark — a trace
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. game — a match
  12. game — wild animals
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bark — to shout
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bulb — for light

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