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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bulb — for light
  3. pitch — completely
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. mark — a grade
  6. field — a subject
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. key — in music
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. field — farmland
  15. field — for sport
  16. key — for a lock
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mark — a trace
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. key — the most important part

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