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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: mug · scale · wind · rock · foot · staff · squash · bulb

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. wind — moving air
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mug — a face
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. foot — a measure
  8. rock — a stone
  9. staff — employees
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. staff — employees
  12. mug — to rob
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bulb — for light
  16. staff — a stick
  17. scale — in music
  18. squash — to crush
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mug — a cup
  21. scale — size or range
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. wind — moving air
  24. rock — music

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