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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: bulb · safe · perch · temple · ball · stem · nail · march

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. bulb — for light
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ball — a great time
  5. march — music
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stem — to come from
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ball — a dance
  17. march — the month
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bulb — for light
  21. march — the month
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. perch — the fish
  24. perch — for a bird

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