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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 120 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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stem — to come from
  12. bulb — for light
  13. charge — a price
  14. rush — hurry
  15. charge — electricity
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. key — the most important part
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. charge — in control

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