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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. board — to get on
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bore — to drill
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. perch — the fish
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. rock — a stone
  13. stem — to come from
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. rock — music
  20. bore — to tire
  21. ball — a great time
  22. board — a committee
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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