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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. hand — in cards
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. bulb — for light
  10. root — the cause
  11. root — of a plant
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bound — obliged
  14. hand — help
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. root — of a word
  21. bound — certain
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bound — tied together
  24. hand — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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