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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. bulb — for light
  3. suit — in cards
  4. rock — a stone
  5. press — to push
  6. press — newspapers
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. scale — size or range
  9. court — of a king
  10. scale — in music
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rock — music
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. court — of law
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. court — for sport
  20. press — a publisher
  21. suit — to fit
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. suit — clothes

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