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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: leaves · mate · key · cabinet · lash · ball · face · bulb

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mate — a partner
  9. ball — a great time
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. face — to confront
  13. key — for a lock
  14. face — to point toward
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. ball — a dance
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. face — part of the head
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bulb — for light
  22. key — in music
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. mate — a friend

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