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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bound — certain
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. row — a line
  8. row — to paddle
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bound — obliged
  11. cue — a hint
  12. firm — a company
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cue — a signal
  18. rock — a stone
  19. bound — tied together
  20. firm — decided
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cue — for pool
  24. firm — steady

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