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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: mug · pitcher · fine · temple · bass · bank · racket · bulb

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mug — a face
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bass — the fish
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bank — for money
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. bank — for money
  12. fine — all right
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. fine — high quality
  17. bank — of a river
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bass — low music
  20. mug — a cup
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bulb — for light

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