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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.

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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: file · suit · mate · jam · saw · bound · bulb · bowl

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bulb — for light
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. file — a line of people
  14. bound — certain
  15. file — a document
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bound — obliged
  18. saw — the tool
  19. file — a tool
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bound — tied together
  24. jam — a tight spot

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