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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
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: pitcher · fall · key · pass · firm · bark · bulb · racket

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. firm — a company
  10. fall — to drop
  11. fall — the season
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. firm — steady
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. key — the most important part
  18. firm — decided
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fall — to drop
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. key — in music
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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