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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rock — a stone
  6. suit — to fit
  7. row — to paddle
  8. row — a line
  9. bore — to drill
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. suit — in cards
  12. can — a tin
  13. file — a line of people
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. rock — music
  18. bore — to tire
  19. rash — a series
  20. bulb — for light
  21. file — a tool
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. file — a document

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