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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — to handle
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — in music
  5. hand — help
  6. hand — in cards
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — a grade
  9. cue — a hint
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cue — for pool
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bound — certain
  24. bound — tied together

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