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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 · lie · rock · fine · leaves · straw · mouse · tube

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rock — music
  4. bulb — for light
  5. fine — high quality
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. tube — a container
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bulb — for light
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. tube — the underground
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — a stone
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. fine — all right

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