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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 116 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bulb — for light
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rush — hurry
  10. chip — for betting
  11. ball — a dance
  12. game — a match
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. game — wild animals
  24. chip — to eat

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