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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. ball — a great time
  4. drill — army training
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — a practice
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — after costs
  9. cell — a phone
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cell — in biology
  14. ball — a dance
  15. net — for catching
  16. can — a tin
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. cue — a hint
  22. net — in sport
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cue — a signal

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