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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: sharp · rock · track · fork · lash · bowl · tube · bulb

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. tube — a container
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. rock — music
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. fork — in a road
  17. track — a song
  18. bulb — for light
  19. track — a path
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. tube — the underground
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. sharp — clever

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