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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 · band · bowl · suit · craft · bound · bear · fan

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. bulb — for light
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. craft — a skill
  6. craft — boats
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bound — tied together
  13. band — a music group
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bear — the animal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. band — a ring
  18. bear — the animal
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. bound — certain
  24. fan — a supporter

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