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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 116 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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. track — to keep track
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. last — final
  5. track — a song
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cue — a hint
  17. track — a path
  18. last — to go on
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. last — finally
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. safe — a strongbox

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