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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: sharp · bulb · mug · bowl · club · suit · rock · saw

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  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. rock — music
  2. mug — a cup
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. club — a group
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bulb — for light
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. club — for dancing
  10. suit — clothes
  11. saw — the tool
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. club — for golf
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rock — a stone
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. mug — a face
  23. suit — in cards
  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