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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. cap — of ice
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. suit — in cards
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. suit — clothes
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bulb — for light
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. perch — the fish
  13. hand — help
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. hand — in cards
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. cap — a lid
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mark — a trace
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a grade

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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