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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.

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: ball · fine · lie · leaves · cap · bulb

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. fine — all right
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bulb — for light
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. fine — high quality
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. lie — to recline
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bulb — for light
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. cap — of ice
  15. ball — a great time
  16. cap — a lid
  17. cap — a hat
  18. lie — an untruth

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