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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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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 · ball · straw · pop · drill · bowl · mate

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. can — a tin
  6. drill — a practice
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — music
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. drill — the tool
  13. pop — soda
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mate — to breed
  17. bulb — for light
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mate — a partner
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. mate — a friend
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. 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