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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 116 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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. row — to paddle
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mark — a grade
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. spell — a short time
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a song
  14. track — a path
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. spell — letters
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. spell — magic
  23. mark — a trace
  24. bulb — for light

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