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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. kick — in football
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — all right
  6. firm — steady
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. firm — a company
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. key — in music
  12. bulb — for light
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. firm — decided
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. row — to paddle
  17. rush — hurry
  18. key — the most important part
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. key — for a lock
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. row — a line

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