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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. suit — clothes
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. bulb — for light
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — to fit
  9. kid — child
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. can — to be able to
  15. scale — size or range
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — a tin
  18. hand — in cards
  19. hand — help
  20. bulb — for light
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. scale — in music
  24. kid — to tease

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