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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
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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: temple · kick · leaves · rash · bulb · mark · trunk · lie

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. rash — a series
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. mark — a grade
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rash — hasty
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. bulb — for light
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. bulb — for light
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. lie — to recline
  23. kick — in football
  24. kick — with a leg

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