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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 120 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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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: bowl · bank · cap · saw · temple · pound · suit · bulb

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  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. pound — a weight
  2. bulb — for light
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bank — for money
  5. suit — clothes
  6. cap — a lid
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. saw — the tool
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bank — for money
  14. cap — a hat
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. cap — of ice
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bowl — a football final
  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