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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.

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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · bowl · kid · mug · drill · leaves · calf · pitcher

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. kid — child
  6. mug — a cup
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. mug — a face
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. kid — to tease
  13. drill — army training
  14. mug — to rob
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. bulb — for light
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. drill — a practice
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bulb — for light
  24. drill — the tool

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