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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
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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: bulb · bat · stand · cue · temple · jam · shower · wake

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. shower — to wash
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. bulb — for light
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. cue — a hint
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cue — a signal
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. stand — to bear
  16. wake — a trail
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. shower — rain
  19. cue — for pool
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. bat — the animal
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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