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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. cue — a hint
  4. rush — hurry
  5. prune — to trim
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. perch — the fish
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. snap — to click
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cue — for pool
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bulb — for light
  14. cue — a signal
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. prune — to trim
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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