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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. can — a tin
  3. fine — all right
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mark — a trace
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. toast — bread
  9. fine — high quality
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bulb — for light
  12. can — a tin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mark — a grade
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bulb — of a plant

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