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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: degree · bulb · trunk · lean · coach · scale · temple · bark

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. degree — temperature
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. lean — to bend
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bulb — for light
  11. scale — size or range
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bulb — for light
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. degree — from a university
  21. bark — to shout
  22. lean — thin
  23. degree — an amount
  24. trunk — of a car

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