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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. key — in music
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a dance
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bat — the animal
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. lie — to recline
  14. key — the most important part
  15. drill — a practice
  16. press — to push
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. key — for a lock
  19. press — a publisher
  20. ball — a great time
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bulb — for light
  24. drill — the tool

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