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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 120 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: racket · mine · bulb · pitcher · ruler · present · can · season

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. bulb — for light
  11. season — of the year
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mine — for digging
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. present — there
  17. present — a gift
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. present — the time now
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. season — in sport
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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