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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. toast — bread
  3. suit — to fit
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. roll — a list
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bulb — for light
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. chip — for betting
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. roll — a cake
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. chip — to eat
  18. mate — a friend
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. mate — to breed
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. toast — the most admired

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