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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: temple · calf · squash · ball · roll · lie · cabinet · bulb

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. squash — to crush
  9. roll — a list
  10. squash — the sport
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ball — a dance
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bulb — for light
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. ball — a great time

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