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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. fine — all right
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rash — a series
  6. bulb — for light
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fork — in a road
  10. rash — hasty
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. cue — a signal
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. squash — the sport
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. squash — to crush
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. bulb — for light
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. nail — on a finger

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