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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. club — for dancing
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. rock — music
  8. bulb — for light
  9. toast — bread
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — low music
  13. club — for golf
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. can — a tin
  17. bass — the fish
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rock — a stone
  21. club — a group
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. can — to be able to

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