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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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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bank — for money
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. shower — rain
  9. bank — for money
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pound — a weight
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bear — the animal
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. bank — of a river
  23. shower — to wash
  24. wave — with your hand

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