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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. bulb — for light
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bulb — for light
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. rash — a series
  7. club — a group
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. board — to get on
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. staff — employees
  13. club — for dancing
  14. rash — hasty
  15. board — a committee
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. staff — employees
  18. game — a match
  19. staff — a stick
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. game — wild animals
  23. club — for golf
  24. mouse — the animal

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