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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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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: bulb · ruler · tube · craft · capital · bank · mug · swing

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  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. bank — of a river
  2. mug — a face
  3. swing — in golf
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. swing — to play on
  6. capital — a big letter
  7. mug — to rob
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. tube — the underground
  10. bank — for money
  11. capital — a city
  12. craft — a skill
  13. tube — a container
  14. capital — money
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. bank — for money
  19. mug — a cup
  20. bulb — for light
  21. craft — boats
  22. swing — music
  23. tube — in a tire
  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