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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. key — the most important part
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bulb — for light
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. stand — to bear
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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