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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. staff — employees
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. key — the most important part
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. key — in music
  8. staff — a stick
  9. bark — to shout
  10. object — to protest
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. object — an aim
  13. object — a thing
  14. key — for a lock
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. staff — employees

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