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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.

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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 · pitcher · can · land · jam · object · fork · bear

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. bear — the animal
  3. object — an aim
  4. land — ground
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bulb — for light
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bear — the animal
  12. land — a country
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. object — to protest
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bulb — for light
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. land — to come down
  24. object — a thing

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