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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bulb — for light
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — to fit
  5. fork — in a road
  6. rock — music
  7. pit — in a race
  8. suit — clothes
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pit — a hole
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. land — ground
  20. land — a country
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. land — to come down
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. fork — to eat with

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