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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  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. rash — a series
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. sharp — clever
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. ball — a dance
  11. rush — hurry
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. fine — all right
  15. bulb — for light
  16. toast — bread
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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