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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. drill — a practice
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. cap — of ice
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. tube — a container
  8. club — a group
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pit — a hole
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. pit — in a race
  14. drill — the tool
  15. cap — a hat
  16. club — for golf
  17. bulb — for light
  18. tube — the underground
  19. cap — a lid
  20. cue — a hint
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cue — a signal
  24. drill — army training

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