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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: can · content · bulb · temple · arm · pass · craft · plane

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. content — the amount
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. craft — boats
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bulb — for light
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. plane — a tool
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. can — to be able to
  14. craft — a skill
  15. can — a tin
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. can — a tin
  22. content — happy
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. temple — a place of worship

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