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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. race — a contest
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. race — the arms race
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rock — music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mark — a trace
  11. can — a tin
  12. rock — a stone
  13. band — a ring
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mark — a grade
  16. rush — hurry
  17. band — a music group
  18. can — to be able to
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. race — humankind
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. band — a rubber band

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