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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. race — humankind
  3. pit — a hole
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. pit — in a race
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. suit — clothes
  14. lie — to recline
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. race — a contest
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. race — the arms race
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. suit — to fit
  23. wake — a trail
  24. suit — in cards

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