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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: temple · firm · arm · key · drill · foot · bulb · racket

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bulb — for light
  5. firm — decided
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. drill — a practice
  8. bulb — for light
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. firm — steady
  12. key — in music
  13. firm — a company
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. drill — the tool
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. foot — a measure
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. key — for a lock
  23. key — the most important part
  24. drill — army training

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