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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  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. can — a tin
  2. net — for catching
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rash — hasty
  6. track — a song
  7. ground — crushed
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. suit — clothes
  11. ground — the earth
  12. net — in sport
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. ground — a position
  15. bulb — for light
  16. net — after costs
  17. track — a path
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rash — a series
  21. bulb — for light
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. track — to keep track
  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