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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. suit — in cards
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. bulb — for light
  6. suit — clothes
  7. can — a tin
  8. stock — shares
  9. snap — to click
  10. can — a tin
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. drill — the tool
  17. pitch — completely
  18. drill — army training
  19. drill — a practice
  20. stock — goods
  21. cue — a signal
  22. suit — to fit
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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