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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. object — a thing
  3. swing — in golf
  4. key — in music
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. swing — to play on
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bulb — for light
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. foot — a measure
  13. club — a group
  14. key — for a lock
  15. shower — to wash
  16. object — an aim
  17. branch — a division
  18. bulb — for light
  19. club — for golf
  20. object — to protest
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. shower — rain
  24. club — for dancing

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