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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — to handle
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pitch — completely
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mug — to rob
  12. wound — an injury
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mug — a face
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. wound — an injury

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