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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bulb — for light
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. roll — a list
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. wind — moving air
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. roll — a cake
  13. saw — the tool
  14. scale — in music
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. saw — the tool
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. wind — moving air
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. scale — size or range
  24. bore — to tire

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