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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.

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: bulb · roll · perch · fine · key · jam · bowl · bore

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bulb — for light
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bulb — for light
  10. perch — the fish
  11. fine — high quality
  12. roll — a cake
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. fine — all right
  16. key — in music
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bore — to tire
  21. roll — a list
  22. bore — to drill
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. key — the most important part

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