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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bowl · safe · bear · vault · club · ball · bound · bulb

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. ball — a dance
  5. club — for golf
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. bear — the animal
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bound — obliged
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bound — tied together
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. vault — a safe
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. club — for dancing
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bear — the animal
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. bound — certain
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bulb — for light
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bulb — of a plant

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