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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 · cue · march · lie · bulb · mine · straw · season

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. season — of the year
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. lie — to recline
  9. mine — for digging
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. march — the month
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. season — in sport
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. march — the month
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. cue — a signal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cue — a hint
  24. march — music

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