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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: spring · fine · face · mouse · bulb · rock · pitch · leaves

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. bulb — for light
  6. face — part of the head
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. spring — of water
  9. fine — high quality
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. face — to confront
  14. spring — a coil
  15. fine — all right
  16. spring — the season
  17. rock — music
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pitch — completely
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. face — to point toward
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — to move gently

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