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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. season — in sport
  3. season — of the year
  4. suit — in cards
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. pop — music
  8. rash — a series
  9. pop — soda
  10. can — a tin
  11. degree — temperature
  12. bulb — for light
  13. can — a tin
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. degree — from a university
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. degree — an amount
  18. pop — to visit
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rash — hasty
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bulb — for light
  23. can — to be able to
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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