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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. toast — bread
  3. tube — a container
  4. tube — the underground
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pit — a hole
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mark — a trace
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. squash — to crush
  12. perch — the fish
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bulb — for light
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. squash — the sport
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fine — all right
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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