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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: date · roll · bank · ball · drill · jam · bowl · bulb

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. drill — army training
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. ball — a great time
  5. bulb — for light
  6. drill — a practice
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. date — the fruit
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bulb — for light
  16. roll — a list
  17. bank — for money
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. drill — the tool
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bank — for money

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