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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: ground · fine · bulb · chair · mug · ball · snap · net

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. ball — a dance
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. fine — high quality
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bulb — for light
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. mug — a cup
  9. ground — the earth
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. net — in sport
  13. bulb — for light
  14. chair — a leader
  15. mug — a face
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. ground — a position
  18. net — after costs
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. fine — all right
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ground — crushed
  24. snap — to click

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