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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
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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: chip · lean · temple · cold · ball · wake · cue · bulb

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. The water is too ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. cold — the Cold War
  4. cue — a hint
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. chip — for betting
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. chip — to eat
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a great time
  16. wake — a trail
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. cold — an illness
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. bulb — for light
  21. lean — thin
  22. lean — to bend
  23. cold — not warm
  24. cue — a signal

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