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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: bulb · staff · dip · temple · bore · lie · ruler · band

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. staff — a stick
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bore — to tire
  12. band — a ring
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bulb — for light
  19. band — a music group
  20. staff — employees
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. dip — to sink
  23. staff — employees
  24. ruler — for measuring

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