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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · vault · march · fan · leaves · bulb · mark · calf

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. march — the month
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. march — music
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. vault — a safe
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. march — the month
  18. mark — a grade
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bulb — for light
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fan — a supporter

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