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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: game · wax · pitcher · can · bulb · ball

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. game — wild animals
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bulb — for light
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — a tin
  15. ball — a great time
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — a tin

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