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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 116 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rash — a series
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cue — for pool
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. stem — to come from
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rest — a break
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. vault — a safe
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. cue — a signal
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bulb — for light
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. deal — to handle
  22. mark — a trace
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rash — on the skin

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