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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: game · wax · pitcher · can · bulb · ball · foot · lie

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. game — wild animals
  3. wax — to grow
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. lie — to recline
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. ball — a great time
  12. can — a tin
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. can — a tin
  18. foot — a measure
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. ball — a dance
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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