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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: mate · capital · rush · bulb · bark · rash · temple · stand

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. mate — to breed
  5. bark — to shout
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. capital — money
  11. capital — a city
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mate — a partner
  20. rash — hasty
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mate — a friend

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