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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 124 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 · bulb · suit · roll · bound · mine · snap · wave

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bulb — for light
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bound — tied together
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. suit — in cards
  19. roll — a list
  20. suit — to fit
  21. mine — for digging
  22. roll — a cake
  23. suit — clothes
  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