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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bulb — for light
  3. key — in music
  4. shower — to wash
  5. rash — a series
  6. shower — rain
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bound — obliged
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bound — certain
  15. key — for a lock
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. bulb — for light
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bound — tied together
  22. rash — hasty
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mark — a grade

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