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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: firm · rock · roll · ground · last · bulb · fan · ruler

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. ground — the earth
  3. roll — a list
  4. ground — crushed
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bulb — for light
  8. last — to go on
  9. rock — music
  10. last — final
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. firm — steady
  13. ground — a position
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. firm — decided
  20. last — finally
  21. roll — a cake
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. firm — a company
  24. rock — a stone

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