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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. track — to keep track
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. track — a path
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pitch — completely
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bore — to tire
  19. track — a song
  20. foot — a measure
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bore — to drill
  24. foot — part of the body

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