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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: mate · toast · land · bass · cue · bank · bulb · ground

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cue — a hint
  3. ground — a position
  4. cue — a signal
  5. land — a country
  6. bulb — for light
  7. toast — bread
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. ground — crushed
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. bank — for money
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mate — a friend
  18. ground — the earth
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bass — the fish
  21. land — ground
  22. land — to come down
  23. bass — low music
  24. mate — a partner

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