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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rest — a break
  3. pop — to visit
  4. rock — a stone
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pop — soda
  8. mark — a trace
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. firm — decided
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. firm — a company
  14. drill — army training
  15. bulb — for light
  16. drill — a practice
  17. rock — music
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bulb — for light
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. firm — steady

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