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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bulb — for light
  4. net — in sport
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wax — to grow
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. net — for catching
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. rock — music
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. bear — the animal
  14. foot — a measure
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. net — after costs
  18. bear — the animal
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. chip — to eat
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bulb — for light
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. foot — part of the body

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