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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 · roll · temple · trunk · tube · staff · mouse · bulb

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. staff — a stick
  5. roll — a cake
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lean — thin
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. roll — a list
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. staff — employees
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. tube — the underground
  19. staff — employees
  20. bulb — for light
  21. tube — a container
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. lean — to bend

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