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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. object — to protest
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. ball — a dance
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. snap — to click
  12. bulb — for light
  13. object — a thing
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — a permit
  16. object — an aim
  17. ball — a great time
  18. bound — tied together
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. fine — all right
  21. bound — certain
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bound — obliged
  24. rock — music

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