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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. spell — magic
  3. key — the most important part
  4. bulb — for light
  5. spell — a short time
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. face — part of the head
  10. key — for a lock
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — to be able to
  15. face — to confront
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. can — a tin
  18. face — to point toward
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. tube — a container
  23. tube — the underground
  24. spell — letters

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