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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 120 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: foot · fork · lie · pitcher · rash · bulb · fine · bass

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. foot — a measure
  3. fork — in a road
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bass — the fish
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bass — low music
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lie — to recline
  18. rash — a series
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fine — all right
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. fine — high quality

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