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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bass — low music
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. branch — a division
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. saw — the tool
  16. foot — a measure
  17. pit — in a race
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bass — the fish
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. pit — a hole
  24. bulb — for light

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