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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. ball — a dance
  3. root — of a word
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. bulb — for light
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. scale — in music
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. root — of a plant
  13. root — the cause
  14. scale — size or range
  15. charge — a price
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bulb — for light
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. foot — a measure
  20. charge — in control
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. ball — a great time
  23. charge — electricity
  24. lash — to lash out

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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