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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bulb · bass · game · foot · bear · mine · bank · bay

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bank — for money
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. foot — a measure
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bulb — for light
  14. game — wild animals
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. mine — for digging
  18. game — a match
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bass — low music
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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