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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: tube · pitcher · nail · snap · bulb · bay · mark · rock

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rock — music
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — a container
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. mark — a trace
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. rock — a stone
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bulb — for light
  19. snap — to click
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mark — a grade
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rock — to move gently

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