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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: pass · sharp · coach · roll · stand · temple · bulb · jam

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. roll — a cake
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. sharp — clever
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bulb — for light
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. pass — a permit
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. roll — a list
  24. stand — to bear

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