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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. staff — employees
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. ground — crushed
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bulb — for light
  7. swing — in golf
  8. bulb — for light
  9. fine — high quality
  10. fine — all right
  11. cue — for pool
  12. firm — steady
  13. ground — a position
  14. staff — a stick
  15. ground — the earth
  16. firm — a company
  17. swing — to play on
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bore — to tire
  20. swing — music
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bore — to drill
  23. cue — a hint
  24. staff — employees

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