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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.

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 · key · object · foot · shower · bowl · perch · net

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. key — in music
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. object — a thing
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. net — in sport
  8. key — for a lock
  9. net — for catching
  10. key — the most important part
  11. net — after costs
  12. foot — a measure
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. object — to protest
  15. bulb — for light
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. shower — to wash
  19. perch — the fish
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. bulb — for light
  22. shower — rain
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bowl — a football final

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