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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 ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. net — for catching
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. chip — for betting
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. net — after costs
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. snap — to click
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. wax — to grow
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. bear — the animal
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. chip — to eat
  22. bear — the animal
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. bear — to put up with

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