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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. scale — size or range
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bank — for money
  5. key — for a lock
  6. mark — a grade
  7. key — in music
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. scale — in music
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bulb — for light
  12. sharp — clever
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mark — a trace
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. key — the most important part
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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