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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.

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: stand · mine · file · mouse · temple · cap · bulb · firm

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. cap — a hat
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. firm — decided
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. file — a line of people
  9. firm — steady
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bulb — for light
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mine — for digging
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. stand — to bear
  17. file — a document
  18. cap — of ice
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. firm — a company
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cap — a lid
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. temple — a place of worship

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