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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 116 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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rash — hasty
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bulb — for light
  18. can — to be able to
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. bass — low music
  21. rash — a series
  22. chair — a leader
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. ball — a round shape

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