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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. cue — for pool
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bulb — for light
  6. perch — the fish
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cue — a signal
  9. march — the month
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. march — the month
  13. ball — a great time
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. ball — a dance
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. mark — a trace
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. cue — a hint
  23. march — music
  24. hide — animal skin

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