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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 · toast · bat · current · cue · bear · bowl · tube

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. current — of water
  5. cue — a signal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. toast — bread
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. current — happening now
  10. bulb — for light
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. tube — a container
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. tube — the underground
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. current — electric
  23. bat — for baseball
  24. tube — in a tire

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