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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: trunk · cue · rash · temple · ground · bulb · snap · roll

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. roll — a cake
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. ground — crushed
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ground — the earth
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. cue — a hint
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. snap — to click
  14. rash — hasty
  15. cue — a signal
  16. ground — a position
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. roll — a list
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bulb — for light
  23. rash — a series
  24. bulb — for light

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