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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.

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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: cue · nail · object · spell · wake · rush · bulb · deal

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. object — a thing
  3. cue — a signal
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. deal — to handle
  12. object — to protest
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rush — hurry
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. cue — for pool
  20. spell — letters
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. wake — a trail
  23. spell — magic
  24. wake — before a funeral

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