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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · bowl · jam · chest · chip · can · fine · lie

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. chest — a box
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. can — a tin
  7. chip — for betting
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. chest — of your body
  11. can — a tin
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. can — to be able to
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lie — to recline
  18. fine — all right
  19. chest — of your body
  20. fine — high quality
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. chip — to eat
  24. bowl — to roll

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