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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: temple · spring · drill · calf · pass · stem · bulb · face

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. spring — of water
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. drill — a practice
  7. bulb — for light
  8. face — to point toward
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. face — part of the head
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. spring — a coil
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stem — to come from
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. drill — the tool
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bulb — for light
  21. face — to confront
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. spring — the season
  24. drill — army training

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