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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 120 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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  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. wound — an injury
  2. press — newspapers
  3. craft — a skill
  4. drill — a practice
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — the earth
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bulb — for light
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. craft — boats
  12. drill — the tool
  13. drill — army training
  14. ground — crushed
  15. cue — a hint
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. wound — an injury
  19. press — to push
  20. content — happy
  21. bulb — for light
  22. content — the amount
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cue — a signal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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