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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.

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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: temple · trunk · club · mark · toast · root · bulb · squash

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. squash — to crush
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. club — for dancing
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. squash — the sport
  12. mark — a grade
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. root — the cause
  16. bulb — for light
  17. toast — bread
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. root — of a word
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. club — for golf
  24. mark — a trace

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