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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: cap · bulb · foot · ball · drill · bear · lie · suit

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cap — a lid
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. suit — to fit
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. drill — a practice
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cap — of ice
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bear — the animal
  18. drill — army training
  19. ball — a dance
  20. cap — a hat
  21. drill — the tool
  22. ball — a great time
  23. suit — clothes
  24. foot — part of the body

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