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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: stand · trunk · bulb · temple · deal · lash · pitcher · fork

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. stand — to bear
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. deal — to handle
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fork — in a road
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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