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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 120 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: temple · file · bulb · ball · spell · saw · pitcher · suit

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bulb — for light
  4. saw — the tool
  5. file — a line of people
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. file — a tool
  9. suit — in cards
  10. suit — to fit
  11. spell — magic
  12. spell — letters
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. spell — a short time
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ball — a dance
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. file — a document
  24. bulb — of a plant

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