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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: dip · court · fine · rash · bulb · rock · club · bear

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rash — hasty
  3. fine — high quality
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fine — all right
  8. club — for dancing
  9. court — of a king
  10. dip — to sink
  11. club — a group
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. court — of law
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rash — a series
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. club — for golf
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. court — for sport
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bulb — for light

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