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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: rash · rest · deal · bulb · bowl · board · arm · mate

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — to handle
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mate — a friend
  5. rash — a series
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. mate — a partner
  8. rash — hasty
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. rest — what's left
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bulb — for light
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rest — a break
  18. board — to get on
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. board — a committee

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