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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ball — a great time
  4. rash — a series
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. squash — to crush
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. current — of water
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. bulb — for light
  17. current — electric
  18. squash — the sport
  19. foot — a measure
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. rash — hasty
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. current — happening now

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