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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 120 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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. suit — to fit
  3. bulb — for light
  4. key — for a lock
  5. spring — a coil
  6. ball — a great time
  7. key — in music
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. key — the most important part
  10. spring — of water
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wind — moving air
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. spring — the season
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ball — a dance
  21. suit — in cards
  22. wind — moving air
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. mouse — the animal

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