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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bank — for money
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. track — a song
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. row — a line
  11. track — a path
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. row — to paddle
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bank — of a river
  17. track — to keep track
  18. wake — a trail
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cue — a hint
  21. bank — for money
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cue — a signal

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