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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: fine · sharp · band · swing · stand · bowl · bulb · mouse

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. swing — music
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. stand — to bear
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. band — a ring
  11. fine — all right
  12. sharp — clever
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fine — high quality
  17. swing — in golf
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. swing — to play on
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bulb — for light
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. band — a music group
  24. mouse — the animal

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