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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. bulb — for light
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. dip — to sink
  5. track — a song
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. track — to keep track
  8. cue — a hint
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fall — the season
  11. cue — a signal
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. cue — for pool
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pop — soda
  17. fall — to drop
  18. pop — to visit
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. saw — the tool
  21. fall — to drop
  22. track — a path
  23. pop — music
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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