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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. tube — the underground
  5. bulb — for light
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. rock — a stone
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. tube — a container
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. rock — music
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. ball — a great time

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