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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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. bulb — for light
  3. object — an aim
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. key — for a lock
  8. charge — in control
  9. band — a ring
  10. object — to protest
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mark — a trace
  16. band — a music group
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. charge — a price
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rock — a stone
  23. mug — a face
  24. object — a thing

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