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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'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. mark — a grade
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cue — a signal
  10. can — a tin
  11. cue — for pool
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. key — for a lock
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a great time
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. ball — a dance
  24. mark — a trace

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