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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. suit — to fit
  3. bulb — for light
  4. press — newspapers
  5. dip — to sink
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — a series
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. spell — letters
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. field — farmland
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. suit — clothes
  15. spell — magic
  16. spell — a short time
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. field — a subject
  19. bulb — for light
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — to push
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. field — for sport

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