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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. rock — a stone
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. can — a tin
  8. spell — magic
  9. scale — in music
  10. fine — high quality
  11. scale — size or range
  12. rock — music
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. spell — a short time
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pitch — completely
  19. fine — all right
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. spell — letters
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. can — a tin
  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