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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. suit — in cards
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. pitch — completely
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. rock — music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bulb — for light
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. suit — clothes
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. key — for a lock
  18. suit — to fit
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. key — in music
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. bear — the animal
  24. temple — a place of worship

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