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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: bulb · club · foot · mug · temple · arm · wax · mate

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. club — for golf
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. mate — to breed
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mate — a friend
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. mug — a face
  11. mug — to rob
  12. foot — a measure
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. club — a group
  17. mate — a partner
  18. wax — to grow
  19. club — for dancing
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mug — a cup
  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