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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. stem — to come from
  3. drill — the tool
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. key — for a lock
  8. club — for golf
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. drill — a practice
  11. toast — bread
  12. club — a group
  13. bulb — for light
  14. club — for dancing
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. key — the most important part
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. key — in music
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. drill — army training
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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