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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bear — the animal
  4. prune — to trim
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. kid — to tease
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. can — a tin
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. can — to be able to
  14. prune — to trim
  15. suit — to fit
  16. can — a tin
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bear — the animal
  20. season — in sport
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — of the year
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. kid — child

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