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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. rest — what's left
  7. net — for catching
  8. mark — a trace
  9. rock — music
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. squash — the sport
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. kick — in football
  16. net — in sport
  17. bulb — for light
  18. squash — to crush
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. rest — a break
  21. bulb — for light
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. sharp — clever
  24. net — after costs

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