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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.

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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: board · sharp · can · firm · mouse · bulb · ball · saw

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. saw — the tool
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. firm — decided
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. board — a committee
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. bulb — for light
  13. can — a tin
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ball — a great time
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. board — to get on
  18. sharp — clever
  19. firm — a company
  20. firm — steady
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. mouse — the animal

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