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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. key — in music
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bulb — for light
  6. board — to get on
  7. club — a group
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. roll — a list
  11. staff — employees
  12. club — for dancing
  13. rock — music
  14. staff — a stick
  15. key — for a lock
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. hand — help
  18. roll — a cake
  19. board — a committee
  20. key — the most important part
  21. staff — employees
  22. club — for golf
  23. rock — a stone
  24. hand — in cards

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