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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. drill — army training
  3. bound — certain
  4. rest — what's left
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. bulb — for light
  12. drill — a practice
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bound — tied together
  15. firm — a company
  16. firm — steady
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. rush — hurry
  19. drill — the tool
  20. bound — obliged
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rest — a break
  24. rush — to hurry

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