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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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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: rest · ruler · bowl · safe · bulb · tube · deal · file

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. file — a document
  7. rest — what's left
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bulb — for light
  13. file — a tool
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. tube — the underground
  16. rest — a break
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — a container
  22. deal — to handle
  23. file — a line of people
  24. ruler — for measuring

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