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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. lie — to recline
  3. cue — a hint
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. key — the most important part
  8. track — a song
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. cue — for pool
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. snap — to click
  16. track — to keep track
  17. track — a path
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. foot — a measure
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. key — in music
  24. key — for a lock

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