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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 120 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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bulb · can · stand · pass · sharp · ball

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. 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. stand — to bear
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — a tin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. can — a tin
  14. sharp — clever
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. 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