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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: roll · lie · bulb · calf · tube · pit · deal · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. tube — a container
  8. pit — in a race
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pit — a hole
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. roll — a cake
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. roll — a list
  20. tube — the underground
  21. deal — to handle
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bulb — for light
  24. lie — to recline

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