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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bulb — for light
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bound — obliged
  6. key — the most important part
  7. pit — in a race
  8. key — in music
  9. bulb — for light
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ball — a great time
  13. chip — to eat
  14. mug — a face
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bound — certain
  17. mug — a cup
  18. bound — tied together
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. scale — in music
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. pit — a hole

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