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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: date · track · scale · swing · deal · bulb · can · temple

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. swing — in golf
  3. bulb — for light
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. can — a tin
  7. date — the fruit
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. track — a song
  10. swing — to play on
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. can — to be able to
  14. track — a path
  15. scale — in music
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. bulb — for light
  18. scale — size or range
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. can — a tin
  22. swing — music
  23. deal — to handle
  24. track — to keep track

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