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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: ball · stand · rule · jam · bay · toast · can · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. ball — a dance
  4. toast — bread
  5. ball — a great time
  6. can — a tin
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. can — to be able to
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. rule — a law
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. stand — to bear
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. rule — government
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. can — a tin
  24. bulb — for light

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