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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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Word bank
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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: track · ball · mug · object · bulb · fine · saw · sharp

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mug — a cup
  4. saw — the tool
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. object — an aim
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. object — to protest
  10. sharp — clever
  11. track — a path
  12. object — a thing
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. mug — a face
  17. bulb — for light
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mug — to rob
  23. track — a song
  24. saw — the tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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