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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. spell — a short time
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. spell — letters
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. staff — a stick
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. bulb — for light
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. staff — employees
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cell — in biology
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cell — a phone
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. spell — magic

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