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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · racket · file · bulb · bore · can · suit · arm

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. suit — to fit
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. bore — to drill
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. file — a document
  9. bulb — for light
  10. file — a tool
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. file — a line of people
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. suit — clothes
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bore — to tire
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bulb — for light
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. suit — in cards
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bore — gave birth

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