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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. fine — high quality
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fine — all right
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mine — for digging
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. roll — a list
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. deal — to handle

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