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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rest — what's left
  3. kid — child
  4. present — the time now
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rest — a break
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. kid — to tease
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rash — a series
  22. present — there
  23. suit — in cards
  24. present — a gift

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