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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. rush — hurry
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. ball — a dance
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. last — final
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mate — a friend
  10. tube — a container
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mate — a partner
  13. squash — to crush
  14. last — finally
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mate — to breed
  18. tube — the underground
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ball — a great time
  22. squash — the sport
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. last — to go on

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