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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: fan · root · wave · bulb · press · bass · toast · temple

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. press — a publisher
  4. press — to push
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. root — the cause
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. toast — bread
  13. root — of a word
  14. bass — low music
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — the fish
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. press — newspapers
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. root — of a plant
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. wave — with your hand

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