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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. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. club — for dancing
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mate — a friend
  5. mate — a partner
  6. mine — for digging
  7. can — a tin
  8. court — for sport
  9. club — for golf
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. mate — to breed
  13. bulb — for light
  14. key — for a lock
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. court — of a king
  17. can — a tin
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. can — to be able to
  21. key — in music
  22. rush — hurry
  23. key — the most important part
  24. club — a group

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