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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: staff · bulb · net · can · object · shower · file · tube

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. file — a tool
  3. net — in sport
  4. file — a document
  5. object — an aim
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. staff — employees
  9. can — a tin
  10. net — for catching
  11. file — a line of people
  12. shower — rain
  13. shower — to wash
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — a container
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. bulb — for light
  18. object — to protest
  19. staff — a stick
  20. net — after costs
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. bulb — for light
  23. staff — employees
  24. can — to be able to

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