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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cue · ground · staff · board · sharp · season · dip · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. board — a committee
  4. staff — employees
  5. dip — to sink
  6. ground — the earth
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. board — to get on
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a hint
  15. ground — crushed
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. season — of the year
  18. staff — a stick
  19. sharp — clever
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. staff — employees
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. ground — a position

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