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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  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. bowl — a dish
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. net — after costs
  7. can — a tin
  8. net — in sport
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. net — for catching
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. can — a tin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. craft — a skill
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. craft — boats
  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