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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pop — music
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. cue — for pool
  6. row — to paddle
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. row — a line
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. pop — soda
  15. saw — the tool
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. cue — a signal
  19. dip — to sink
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cue — a hint
  24. dip — a sauce

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