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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 116 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rash — a series
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bulb — for light
  10. can — to be able to
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. last — to go on
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pass — a permit
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. can — a tin
  19. last — finally
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. kick — in football
  22. rash — hasty
  23. can — a tin
  24. last — final

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