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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · racket · nail · date · object · ruler · spell · foot

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. bulb — for light
  3. object — to protest
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. bulb — for light
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. object — a thing
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. object — an aim
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. spell — letters
  14. date — the fruit
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. spell — magic
  21. foot — a measure
  22. spell — a short time
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. date — on the calendar

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