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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. pop — soda
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pop — music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. plane — a tool
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. can — a tin
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. can — to be able to
  14. snap — to click
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. pop — to visit
  21. scale — size or range
  22. can — a tin
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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