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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.

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: wave · land · temple · mug · cap · bulb · cue · foot

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  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 — for light
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cue — for pool
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. cap — a lid
  7. land — to come down
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. cap — of ice
  11. cue — a hint
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mug — a face
  15. land — a country
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. cap — a hat
  18. land — ground
  19. foot — a measure
  20. mug — to rob
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. cue — a signal
  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