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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 cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. rash — a series
  3. scale — in music
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — a grade
  7. rash — hasty
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mug — to rob
  10. tear — from crying
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. scale — size or range
  15. mug — a cup
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. mug — a face
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. tear — to rip

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