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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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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: bulb · suit · fine · rash · scale · face · bark · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. face — to point toward
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rash — hasty
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bark — to shout
  11. bulb — for light
  12. suit — clothes
  13. fine — all right
  14. face — part of the head
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. rash — a series
  20. scale — size or range
  21. scale — in music
  22. suit — to fit
  23. face — to confront
  24. fine — high quality

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