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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: mouse · bulb · ball · can · chip · fine · bound · row

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bulb — for light
  5. can — a tin
  6. row — a line
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bound — obliged
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bound — certain
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. row — to paddle
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bulb — for light
  20. can — a tin
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fine — all right
  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