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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bulb — for light
  5. saw — the tool
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. charge — electricity
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. bear — the animal
  11. face — to point toward
  12. face — part of the head
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bear — the animal
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. roll — a list
  18. face — to confront
  19. charge — in control
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. charge — a price
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bulb — of a plant

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