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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. staff — employees
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — to be able to
  8. staff — employees
  9. rule — government
  10. bulb — for light
  11. face — to point toward
  12. ball — a great time
  13. tube — the underground
  14. face — to confront
  15. mark — a trace
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. staff — a stick
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. mark — a grade
  21. face — part of the head
  22. rule — a law
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. tube — a container

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