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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: dip · leaves · land · fork · bulb · bowl · wave · mug

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bulb — for light
  5. land — a country
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. land — ground
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. dip — to sink
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. fork — in a road
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. land — to come down
  23. mug — a face
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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