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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.

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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: mouse · bulb · bark · fan · march · mug · ground · suit

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ground — crushed
  4. bulb — for light
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bulb — for light
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. bark — to shout
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. ground — a position
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mug — a cup
  18. march — music
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. march — the month
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. suit — to fit
  24. mug — a face

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