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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. club — a group
  3. club — for dancing
  4. suit — in cards
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. suit — to fit
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bass — low music
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. bass — the fish
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. rush — hurry
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. club — for golf
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. suit — clothes
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. can — a tin
  24. wax — to grow

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