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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 belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. net — after costs
  11. club — for dancing
  12. ball — a dance
  13. net — in sport
  14. cue — a hint
  15. current — electric
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. current — happening now
  19. bulb — for light
  20. current — of water
  21. net — for catching
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cue — a signal
  24. club — for golf

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