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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 116 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: cap · can · ball · snap · prune · fan · bulb · plane

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. ball — a dance
  4. snap — to click
  5. can — to be able to
  6. cap — of ice
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. cap — a hat
  11. can — a tin
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — a tin
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. cap — a lid
  19. ball — a great time
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. plane — a tool
  24. bulb — for light

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