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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 124 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mate — a partner
  4. can — a tin
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. key — the most important part
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — a division
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. wax — to grow
  14. squash — to crush
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. mate — to breed
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mate — a friend
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. bulb — for light

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