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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: ball · bowl · season · pit · bulb · march · deal · ruler

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. season — of the year
  4. pit — a hole
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. ball — a dance
  14. season — in sport
  15. pit — in a race
  16. deal — to handle
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. march — the month
  19. bulb — for light
  20. march — music
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. bulb — for light

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