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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.

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: staff · temple · bulb · trunk · nail · toast · squash · lean

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. staff — a stick
  3. squash — to crush
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lean — to bend
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. staff — employees
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. staff — employees
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bulb — for light
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. toast — bread
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — thin
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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