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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: tube · saw · bulb · jam · fan · branch · drill · pop

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. tube — a container
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. drill — the tool
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bulb — for light
  10. branch — a division
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. pop — soda
  13. drill — a practice
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. tube — the underground
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. drill — army training
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. pop — music
  22. bulb — for light
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. saw — the tool

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