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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: lean · bulb · temple · bowl · stand · bore · pop · firm

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. lean — thin
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lean — to bend
  7. pop — soda
  8. pop — music
  9. firm — steady
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. firm — decided
  12. bore — to drill
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pop — to visit
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bore — to tire
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. firm — a company
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. temple — side of the head

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