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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 · rock · temple · branch · bulb · plane · hide · coach

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. roll — a list
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. branch — a division
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. roll — a cake
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rock — music
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rock — a stone

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