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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bulb — for light
  6. dip — to sink
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. rash — a series
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. can — a tin
  14. bass — low music
  15. bulb — for light
  16. land — ground
  17. rash — hasty
  18. bass — the fish
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bore — to tire
  21. land — to come down
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. land — a country
  24. ruler — a monarch

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