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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 · temple · bat · plane · ball · stand · foot · tube

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. plane — a tool
  7. ball — a great time
  8. stand — to bear
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. foot — a measure
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. tube — the underground
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bat — the animal
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. roll — a list
  18. roll — a cake
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. tube — a container
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. temple — side of the head

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