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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. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. key — in music
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fine — high quality
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. club — for golf
  12. bulb — for light
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. key — the most important part
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bear — the animal
  21. club — for dancing
  22. fine — all right
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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