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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: tube · mouse · toast · spell · mine · bowl · bulb · leaves

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. tube — a container
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. mine — for digging
  6. toast — bread
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. spell — letters
  9. tube — the underground
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. spell — magic
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. spell — a short time
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bulb — for light
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bowl — a dish

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