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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: nail · bulb · face · chip · can · bear · spell · fine

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bear — the animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — a tin
  6. face — to point toward
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — to be able to
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. chip — to eat
  12. spell — a short time
  13. fine — all right
  14. face — part of the head
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — magic
  17. can — a tin
  18. bear — the animal
  19. fine — high quality
  20. face — to confront
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. chip — for betting

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