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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
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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: fine · wax · bulb · hide · ball · bound · date · scale

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bulb — for light
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bound — tied together
  5. date — the fruit
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bound — certain
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wax — to grow
  12. bulb — for light
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bound — obliged
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — high quality
  19. ball — a dance
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. scale — in music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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