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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. staff — employees
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. saw — the tool
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. staff — a stick
  11. saw — the tool
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bulb — for light
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. toast — bread
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. rush — hurry
  22. ball — a dance
  23. staff — employees
  24. trunk — of a car

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