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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. track — a song
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. chip — to eat
  8. track — a path
  9. chip — for betting
  10. key — the most important part
  11. bulb — for light
  12. hand — in cards
  13. staff — a stick
  14. key — in music
  15. bulb — for light
  16. track — to keep track
  17. key — for a lock
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. staff — employees
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mark — a grade
  23. staff — employees
  24. hand — help

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