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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bulb — for light
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. field — farmland
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. perch — the fish
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fine — all right
  13. field — for sport
  14. scale — in music
  15. field — a subject
  16. fine — high quality
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — music
  20. press — newspapers
  21. press — a publisher
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. press — to push
  24. fine — a penalty

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