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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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. can — a tin
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bark — to shout
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. chip — to eat
  10. chip — for betting
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bulb — for light
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. foot — a measure
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. can — a tin
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bulb — for light

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