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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 light ________________ burned out.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. lie — to recline
  3. degree — temperature
  4. cue — a signal
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. chest — a box
  12. degree — an amount
  13. current — happening now
  14. degree — from a university
  15. chest — of your body
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. current — of water
  18. chest — of your body
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. current — electric
  24. bore — to drill

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