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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. track — a song
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. dip — to sink
  9. rock — a stone
  10. track — to keep track
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a path
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. can — to be able to
  20. ball — a dance
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. rock — music

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