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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: pop · leaves · degree · bulb · can · mouse · arm · wave

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. pop — soda
  4. degree — an amount
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. bulb — for light
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bulb — for light
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pop — music
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. degree — from a university
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. pop — to visit
  24. mouse — for a computer

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