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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: sharp · club · hide · net · bulb · swing · season · key

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. swing — in golf
  3. bulb — for light
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. key — the most important part
  7. swing — to play on
  8. key — in music
  9. season — of the year
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. net — for catching
  12. club — for golf
  13. season — in sport
  14. net — after costs
  15. club — a group
  16. bulb — for light
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. club — for dancing
  20. net — in sport
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. key — for a lock
  24. sharp — clever

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