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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: land · nail · stand · bulb · temple · bowl · craft · leaves

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. craft — a skill
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. land — a country
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. land — to come down
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. land — ground
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. craft — boats
  18. bulb — for light
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. stand — to bear
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bulb — for light

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