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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. lean — thin
  3. suit — clothes
  4. wake — a trail
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. mug — a cup
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mug — to rob
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. mug — a face
  14. rock — a stone
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. lean — to bend
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. rock — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. lean — to rest against

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