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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: cabinet · can · bear · suit · fork · pitcher · bulb · ball

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. ball — a dance
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fork — in a road
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — a tin
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bulb — for light
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bear — the animal
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cabinet — ministers

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