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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 116 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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bass — low music
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bulb — for light
  5. can — a tin
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bass — the fish
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. can — to be able to
  10. field — for sport
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. can — a tin
  14. field — farmland
  15. club — a group
  16. field — a subject
  17. fall — the season
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — for money
  21. club — for dancing
  22. fall — to drop
  23. club — for golf
  24. fan — a supporter

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