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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 124 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bulb — for light
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. current — electric
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. toast — bread
  9. fine — all right
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — of water
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. ball — a great time
  15. current — happening now
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a partner
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. ball — a dance
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — a penalty

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