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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: bass · bulb · track · suit · lean · patient · tube · object

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. suit — to fit
  3. tube — the underground
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. tube — a container
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. bass — low music
  11. track — to keep track
  12. object — an aim
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. track — a song
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. lean — thin
  18. bulb — for light
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. lean — to bend
  22. object — a thing
  23. bass — the fish
  24. object — to protest

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