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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: bear · row · hand · tube · squash · march · bass · bulb

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. squash — to crush
  4. march — music
  5. march — the month
  6. row — to paddle
  7. bear — the animal
  8. tube — a container
  9. bulb — for light
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. hand — help
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. row — a line
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. hand — in cards
  20. tube — the underground
  21. bulb — for light
  22. march — the month
  23. bass — low music
  24. squash — the sport

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