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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 walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. file — a tool
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pitch — completely
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. spring — a coil
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. file — a document
  15. perch — the fish
  16. cue — a hint
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. spring — of water
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cue — a signal
  24. spring — the season

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