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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: bulb · key · fall · object · bay · cue · spell · fine

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. spell — letters
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. fine — all right
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. spell — magic
  10. fall — to drop
  11. cue — for pool
  12. fall — the season
  13. object — an aim
  14. key — the most important part
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. spell — a short time
  17. key — in music
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. object — to protest
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fine — high quality
  23. object — a thing
  24. fall — to drop

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