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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: object · key · bowl · cue · spring · pitcher · bulb · track

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. track — a song
  3. cue — a signal
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. spring — a coil
  6. cue — a hint
  7. key — for a lock
  8. object — an aim
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. key — the most important part
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. spring — the season
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bulb — for light
  16. object — to protest
  17. track — a path
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. object — a thing
  20. bulb — for light
  21. key — in music
  22. track — to keep track
  23. cue — for pool
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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