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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. cue — a hint
  4. face — to confront
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stock — goods
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cue — a signal
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. cue — for pool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. saw — the tool
  16. mate — to breed
  17. face — part of the head
  18. mate — a friend
  19. stock — shares
  20. mate — a partner
  21. face — to point toward
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bulb — for light

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