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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. drill — a practice
  5. staff — a stick
  6. bulb — for light
  7. drill — the tool
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — employees
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. drill — army training
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pit — a hole
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. pit — in a race
  24. racket — for tennis

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