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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.

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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: lie · toast · tube · patient · temple · vault · foot · bulb

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. bulb — for light
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. vault — a safe
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. tube — a container
  24. foot — a measure

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