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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: bulb · mate · jam · lie · bowl · rule · bore · chair

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rule — a law
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bore — to drill
  10. rule — government
  11. bulb — for light
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bore — to tire
  15. mate — a partner
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. chair — a leader
  20. mate — a friend
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. lie — to recline

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