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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. root — the cause
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. scale — in music
  7. staff — a stick
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. scale — size or range
  11. staff — employees
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. date — the fruit
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. bulb — for light
  24. root — of a word

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