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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: row · cue · cabinet · dip · leaves · bulb · racket · toast

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. bulb — for light
  3. row — a line
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. dip — to sink
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cue — a signal
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. cue — for pool
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. toast — bread
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. row — to paddle
  24. row — a quarrel

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