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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · straw · racket · bulb · fine · press · hand · bank

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. bulb — for light
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bank — of a river
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — newspapers
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. bank — for money
  9. press — to push
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. hand — help
  14. bank — for money
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. hand — in cards
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. fine — high quality
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fine — all right

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