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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. saw — the tool
  7. cue — a hint
  8. club — for dancing
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cue — for pool
  11. toast — bread
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. club — a group
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. cue — a signal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — the tool
  19. game — a match
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. club — for golf
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. game — wild animals
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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