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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: cabinet · pop · mouse · bulb · straw · last · can · mate

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bulb — for light
  5. last — to go on
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pop — music
  8. last — finally
  9. pop — soda
  10. mate — to breed
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. can — a tin
  13. last — final
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mate — a friend
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pop — to visit
  23. can — a tin
  24. straw — dry grass

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