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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. can — a tin
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. squash — the sport
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. net — in sport
  10. bulb — for light
  11. net — for catching
  12. net — after costs
  13. bear — the animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. can — to be able to
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bulb — for light

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