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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. ground — the earth
  3. saw — the tool
  4. degree — temperature
  5. degree — an amount
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. degree — from a university
  8. suit — in cards
  9. saw — the tool
  10. suit — clothes
  11. foot — a measure
  12. ground — crushed
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. key — in music
  15. chip — to eat
  16. bulb — for light
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. key — for a lock
  21. ground — a position
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. key — the most important part
  24. chip — for betting

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