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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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. mug — a cup
  6. key — in music
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mug — a face
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. rush — hurry
  12. key — the most important part
  13. stem — to come from
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. spring — a coil
  16. current — of water
  17. current — electric
  18. spring — the season
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. mug — to rob
  21. spring — of water
  22. current — happening now
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. key — for a lock

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