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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. pop — music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bulb — for light
  6. key — the most important part
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. cue — a signal
  9. saw — the tool
  10. vault — a safe
  11. rock — music
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. pop — soda
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rush — hurry
  16. key — in music
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. cue — for pool
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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