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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 120 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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. firm — decided
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. file — a document
  8. key — the most important part
  9. file — a tool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. key — in music
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bulb — for light
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. firm — steady
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. firm — a company
  24. file — a line of people

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