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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. suit — clothes
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — in sport
  7. suit — to fit
  8. cue — for pool
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. game — wild animals
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. cue — a hint
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. bulb — for light
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. cue — a signal
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. suit — in cards
  21. game — a match
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. wake — a trail

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