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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. swing — music
  8. swing — in golf
  9. bulb — for light
  10. squash — the sport
  11. plane — a tool
  12. branch — a division
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. squash — to crush
  15. object — to protest
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. object — a thing
  19. object — an aim
  20. swing — to play on
  21. rock — music
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. rock — a stone
  24. squash — the vegetable

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