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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: stand · ball · saw · trunk · snap · bear · tube · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bear — the animal
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. stand — to bear
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. tube — a container
  10. bear — the animal
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. saw — the tool
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. tube — the underground
  15. snap — to click
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bulb — for light
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ball — a great time
  24. tube — in a tire

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