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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. track — a song
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. wax — to grow
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. track — to keep track
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rock — music
  12. fine — all right
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. board — to get on
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. track — a path
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rock — a stone
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. board — a committee
  24. fine — high quality

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