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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. bulb — for light
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bulb — for light
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. face — to confront
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. staff — employees
  12. face — part of the head
  13. mug — a cup
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. dip — to sink
  16. staff — a stick
  17. last — to go on
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. staff — employees
  21. last — final
  22. mug — a face
  23. face — to point toward
  24. mug — to rob

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