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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. tube — a container
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fine — high quality
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. rock — a stone
  9. game — wild animals
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. game — a match
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — music
  14. chair — a leader
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. tube — the underground
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fine — all right
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. fine — a penalty

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