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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: perch · vault · ruler · bowl · ground · bulb · content · ball

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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. vault — a safe
  4. ground — crushed
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. content — the amount
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. perch — the fish
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. ground — the earth
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ground — a position
  17. ball — a great time
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. content — happy
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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