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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 · capital · squash · coach · bowl · track · cabinet · bulb

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. track — a song
  6. capital — a big letter
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. capital — a city
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. squash — to crush
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. squash — the sport
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. track — to keep track
  21. capital — money
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. track — a path
  24. bowl — a dish

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