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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. mate — a friend
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mate — a partner
  6. bulb — for light
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. can — to be able to
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mate — to breed
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pitch — completely
  20. saw — the tool
  21. vault — a safe
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ball — a great time
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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